If you wish to improve your fitness, there is no question that elliptical fitness machines or treadmill machines can provide you with a good cardiovascular workout. Recently elliptical trainers have started to over shadow treadmills in popularity. As more people become aware of elliptical machines, we should see ellipticals eclipsing treadmills in popularity. The main reason people are looking to use elliptical machines is because they don’t impact the joints, muscles, and bones as treadmills do. Elliptical trainers are becoming more popular because older people find them beneficial. High intensity workouts can be had with elliptical machines despite their low impact.
For the longest time, treadmills have dominated floorspace in most gyms. My doctor has told me that I should stay off ellipticals because of my chronic knee problems. I love working out outdoors, but with the high temperatures I much prefer working out indoors with air conditioning. Your foot can slide forward if your treadmill is not adjusted properly. It is this motion that causes knee injury. If you are over 150 lbs. exercising on a treadmill can feel awkward and uncomfortable. I feel that my knees ache more often when I run on a treadmill. After talking to my local exercise shop owner he told me that most treadmills are incorrectly setup. The main cause is that it is expensive to properly maintain treadmills and that they can easily become out of tune. I have on more that one occasion tried more than one treadmill at our local fitness center before I found one that did not have a pronounced belt slip.
Knee issues are typically a thing of the past once using an elliptical. Belt slip problems are also a thing of the past with elliptical machines. Ever run on air? Well, if you use an elliptical machine, it can feel like you’re floating. It does take a little getting used to the change in motion but it does allow you to do a good aerobic workout when your knees are sore. In fact some physical therapist use elliptical trainers as part of their recovery programs. Personally, I have noticed that my knee that typically hurts when I run on a treadmill doesn’t hurt when I run on an elliptical. Elliptical machines allow you to adjust the elevation that you run at. This has a major benefit in that it will allow you to change the shape of the stroke to eliminate pain and discomfort during your exercise routine.
Michael Scotts is an avid user of elliptical machines. See his website at http://elliptical-trainer-uses4.wetpaint.com/
