Ellipticals

Elliptical Cross-trainers were introduced in 1995 by Precor as a safer and more versatile exercise than stair climbing. They are called elliptical because of the motion that your feet make as you perform the exercise. They are cross-trainers because they can simulate walking, stepping, biking and cross-country skiing. Because you use so many large muscles during the exercise, cross trainers are one of the best weight loss and calorie burning exercises.

Proven to be one of the most effective glute workouts, cross-trainers are extremely popular because the user experiences a low perceived exertion, meaning it doesn't feel like you are working as hard as you do on other exercise equipment, however your heart rate is elevated the same. Although there are many imitation, mass-merchandised cross-trainers, the products that are true to the category all exhibit these features:

• The users knee never bends past his/her toes-the rule of thumb for keeping strain off of the knee joint.
• The motion goes both forward (glute and quadriceps) and reverse (glute and hamstrings) allowing the user to get a more complete lower body workout and also alleviating boredom.
• There is no-impact on your body.
• The machine's pedals are connected to a larger flywheel the facilitates the motion.

Motors/Resistance

Cross-trainer's pedals are not driven by a motor but can have motorized resistance so that it can be changed to make it harder or easier to pedal. Nearly all elliptical cross-trainers in existence today use magnetic resistance. Some are electro-magnetic, meaning that a magnet controls the resistance and electricity controls how strong the magnet is. Others use a magnetic brake, which means that the magnet(s) that control the resistance can be adjusted to move closer or farther away from the flywheel either manually or automatically to create resistance.

Programmability

Ellipticals measure distance in miles and pace in strides per minute. Basic elliptical electronics should include time, distance, pace, total strides and calories burned. More advanced programming will include automatic changes that vary your workout. The most advanced machines will come equipped with a wireless heart rate monitor that will allow the machine to change the workout according to your biofeedback to keep you working out in your desired heart rate zone. This allows you to maximize the time you spend on the machine.

Dual-action

Some elliptical cross-trainers are dual-action, meaning you involve the upper body as well as the lower body. The pedals will be connected to the arms so that both move at the same time. The advantage of this is that you can take some of the workload off of your lower body and transfer it to your upper body. There is no advantage in terms of calorie burn-if someone tells you this, he or she is incorrect! Muscles burn calories as fuel, if you transfer the workload from one muscle group to another you are not increasing the calorie burn you are simply transferring it. Dual action vs. non-dual action is simply a personal preference based on comfort and feel.

Adjustability

Beyond the forward and backward cross-training capabilities of an elliptical machine, some also offer other adjustments or options that allow an even greater range of muscular involvement. These adjustments include the patented Precor feature of an adjustable ramp angle. An adjustable ramp changes the shape of the elliptical path that your stride travels along thus changing the muscles affected by the exercise. Other manufactures have included an adjustable stride length that also effectively changes the elliptical path of the stride.

Biomechanics

When choosing a cross-trainer, be aware of the biomechanics of the machine. An enormous amount of research went into the original development of Precor's elliptical cross-trainer. From the size of the stride length, to the angle of your body on the machine, to the way your knee bends throughout the motion, nothing was left to chance. Although Precor holds several patents for their work, many other manufactures have done an excellent job of creating quality variations of the original machine. Unfortunately many more have not. Many so-called "ellipticals" are elliptical cross-trainers in name only. They are poorly designed and are not the result of any research (other than market research!). Test several different types of elliptical cross-trainers before making a decision. You will notice an enormous difference.