Making The Most Of The Elliptical
Many people select home gym equipment so that they can work out and improve themselves in their own time and at their own pace
. In some cases, the machines that are selected are not utilized to their full benefit.
Therefore, it is important to examine the equipment and explain how to best use it to get the most positive results. Making the most of the equipment is important to focus on, since the time and effort involved are part of a real investment that people expect to pay off with positive physical results.
This mindset applies to elliptical machines just as it does any other piece of exercise equipment. There are many moving parts involved in the device that exercise a wide range of muscle groups with varying focus, so knowing how the device is designed and what to focus on can be of great benefit to the person using it to exercise.
Elliptical machines provide an aerobic workout that works several different parts of the body simultaneously, actively strengthening the body and improving endurance levels. The design is such that when one area of the body moves, such as the feet, other areas like the arms are worked as well.
This engineering provides an active benefit to some parts of the body and a passive one to others. Examining these areas of impact further provides insight into what will be taken care of while using the device and what will need to be actively pursued by the individual.
The first area of impact to be examined is the legs. The legs are worked on the elliptical because the feet are secured in countered pads, and are moved in similar fashion to skis or pedals.
This ovular motion strengthens and works the legs without the harmful impact that traditional running sometimes incurs. This happens because the movement takes the momentum and physical impact out of the area and instead guides in back smoothly.
The foot pads are directly connected to a set of handles that are gripped by the user, which are rotated forward and back in real time with the movements of the legs. Since the handles will move regardless of effort put into them, users may opt to either use them as stabilizers or they can let off a bit with their legs and actively channel their energy into the handlebars, which will result in them improving arm strength as a result.
These active motions also strengthen the core and abdominals, through many simple repeated motions. These muscle groups unconsciously flex and strain during the movement of the limbs in play, and also are physically twisted as the arms and legs work.
This provides a passive strengthening and toning benefit to these muscle groups, even though they are not prioritized or actively engaged. If the user wishes to have a more impactful workout in these areas, they can provide less power to the equipment with their limbs and instead actively concentrate on supplying power with their midsection.
Knowing how these various muscle groups interact with each other allows for specific areas to be targeted at will. It also allows for the user to know the shortcomings of the machine.
For example, the elliptical machine is good for improving fitness levels and strengthening the arms and legs. However, it is not useful for building explosive power in the arms, nor is it as effective as a sit up bench for defining the abdominals.
Knowing these shortcomings gives the user the option to prioritize what can be improved. This keeps things effective and efficient as workouts progress.
Being able to adjust the settings on the elliptical machine can further the described benefits, since things like incline, difficulty, and time frame can all be adjusted. For example, adjusting the incline upward will put a heavier workout on the legs, while the overall difficulty can put more effort onto every affected muscle group.
Finding the ideal setup is the responsibility of the user. However, making sure to blend all of the above factors together will provide a much more inclusive workout experience.
The elliptical machine provides an excellent exercise benefit to those who use it to improve their fitness levels. It is important for these individuals to fully understand the capabilities of the machine and know how to adjust it to give them the maximum possible return.
by: Terry Daniels
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