Using a Home Elliptical Machine for a More Active Lifestyle

A home elliptical machine is basically any kind of exercise machine that simulates walking. The workout derived from such a machine is aerobic in nature, and such is beneficial to those who require cardiovascular exercise.

The home elliptical machine

What differentiates the exercise from an elliptical machine and a regular (and more traditional treadmill)? According to Laura Schultz, a personal trainer at Prairie Stone Sports and Wellness Center in Hoffman Estates:

“The main difference between the treadmill and the elliptical machine is the amount of impact you're putting on your joints. On the treadmill, you're pounding your feet every time you take a step; on the elliptical, your feet are moving in a circle instead of up and down.”

Schultz continues with:

“Some impact can be good for you, helping to prevent bone loss as you age. But if you are already doing a lot of high-impact exercise such as running outside or playing sports like basketball or volleyball, you might want to vary your fitness routine with some time on the low-impact elliptical machine. Try to alternate it.”

On resistance and angle

A good home elliptical machine provides a lot of resistance as well as a beneficial angle for you to “fight”. Resistance is the name of the game, or the amount of pressure that you have to resist to complete a certain movement. If a machine is too “easy” to use, there just might be a chance that it’s not providing the right kind of resistance.

Intensity of the workout

Schultz explains the role of the intensity of workouts on either the treadmill or the home elliptical machine:

“You can burn the same amount of calories on either machine, as long as you adjust the resistance levels to give yourself a good workout. You can make your workout harder by increasing the incline on either machine.”

She continues with:

"It is going to work your gluts more if you're doing the incline. You'll get a better cardio workout on either machine if you put it on an interval setting rather than going for 30 minutes at the same pace. You're getting these spikes of intensity throughout your workout and that makes it a little more challenging cardiovascularly.”

Now, according to Greg Bahnfleth, training and education manager at Life Fitness:

“Some elliptical machines have moving handles that allow you to work your upper and lower body at the same time. And treadmills require more balance than elliptical machines do. People may feel a little bit of vertigo the first time they get on a treadmill.”

Bahnfleth continues his explanation with:

“People may feel a little bit of vertigo the first time they get on a treadmill. It's better to use an elliptical machine since it allows you to move entirely at your own pace rather than on a machine-driven moving belt. Since the treadmill has some impact, it's good to take some time off once in a while and a good alternative is the elliptical.”