The Benefits of Crosstrainers

Cross trainers, also known as elliptical trainers, are stationary exercise machines used to reproduce walking or running motions without the heavy pressure on the joints that those activities cause. Cross trainers are therefore able to reduce the risk of impact injuries and offer a cardiovascular workout similar to a treadmill. The advantage is that almost anyone can use a cross trainer, even those that have high risk joints or have suffered recent injuries. Because of this, the popularity of cross trainers has risen greatly in recent years.

The basic goal of cross trainers is to raise the heart rate and burn calories. Leg muscles get the greatest workout, though cross trainers are not designed with muscle building in mind. The range of motion for the legs is not as great as would be found on a stationary bike, but a better overall workout is achieved. Some believe that cross trainers burn more calories than treadmills because more muscles are involved, but most studies have shown the calorie-burning rate of both machines to be quite similar.

The workout can be light or highly rigorous, depending on the goals of the user. Resistance can be set at the beginning and then adjusted automatically by the machine, according to the chosen program. Many cross trainers have moving upper body mechanisms to exert the upper body along with the legs, though some just have pedals for the feet. For models with upper body components, hand grips are connected to the leg pedals, enabling the arms to provide complementary power to the legs. The user simply moves their feet back and forth on the pedals in a sort of running motion while the arms push and pull on the handles. Mechanical ratios should be such that the legs are doing most of the work, but not so much that the arm handles are rendered useless.

For a cross trainer to be used optimally, users should try to keep their back straight and not lean from side to side on the pedals. When this happens, the user is powering the machine with their weight rather than their muscle, resulting in a lesser workout. Some models allow the user to adjust the angle of the pedals and create different motion paths. The advantage to this is that a variety of muscle groups can be worked out by putting pressure on different parts of the leg.

Most models can accommodate users up to 250 lbs, though some specialty models can handle up to 400 lbs.