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Aaron Leach, fitness director, trains Michael Smith, on a recumbent elliptical Feb. 2, 2017.
What Is A Recumbent Elliptical Machine?
A recumbent elliptical is a piece of exercise equipment that provides all the benefits of an elliptical workout, while sitting in a comfortable position. These machines are perfect for different types of workouts, so are suitable for most people, as they work the entire body, with the use of the arm handles and the pedals for the feet. The included handles allow for the upper body to be worked as well as the lower by way of the strides.
Recumbent machines
not only work the entire body and provide an effective cardio workout, they are efficient at working a greater proportion of muscle groups, and this results in a more efficient workout. Whether you are looking for a machine to do cardiovascular exercise, resistance training, rehabilitation or muscular endurance training, recumbent elliptical machines are useful in challenging you and helping you reach your exercise goals.
Easier On The Joints
The movements that are made when using a recumbent elliptical are much easier on your joints than other exercise equipment, which means that the risk of injury is lower while at the same time still getting a great cardio vascular workout and effective toning for major muscle groups. Risk of injury is still present however, especially if you are unable to adjust the machine to the proper position to suit your needs.
Choosing The Best Machine
If you are planning on purchasing one of these machines, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different features, materials and designs in order to get the proper machine for you. And if at all possible, try out any exercise equipment before buying, to get a feel of what is comfortable for your body. It is of course better to buy equipment of as high a quality as you can afford, rather than cheaper more inferior products.
Features To Consider
Different recumbent elliptical exercise machines come with different features, so you are bound to find one that will suit your needs.
- Stable Base
One of the most important considerations is a stable base that ensures that it doesn’t rock during workouts.
- Adjustable Seat
One feature of recumbent elliptical machines that is useful is an adjustable seat. It is important to also find one that has sufficient back support, to minimize the pressure on your back. With an adjustable seat, you will be able both to find a comfortable position and one that opens your hip flexors, so as to minimize risks of lower back pain and injury.
- Tracking And Workout Analysis
Something else to consider when choosing a model for purchase is whether it has a tracking and analysis feature to help you measure whether you are meeting your personal exercise goals. Most modern exercise machines have built-in computers that monitor different functions including the total workout time, speed, revolutions per minute (RPM), calories burned and heart rate.
- Resistance Levels
Resistance levels is another important consideration because as you progress in your workouts and your fitness levels increase it’s important to challenge your body and that is when a diverse offering in resistance adjustment is very important. Changing the resistance level makes the workout harder and this is another way of measuring your progress. You can also, of course, lower the resistance to make an easier workout if you have done something else also, or to help you recover progressively from injury.
Typical Features Found On Recumbent Elliptical Machines
• inclusion of upper body workouts;
• A range of resistance levels;
• Seat adjustment features that optimize comfort and safety;
• Adjustable incline.
• Number of pre-programmed workouts that will enable you to reach your target heart rate zones.
• Stride length this is important for providing the most comfortable range of motion.
• Display – Is it easy to read? Easy to control and access while working out?
• Tracking and Analysis features: show calories burned, your average and maximum heart rate, carbs burned, strides per minute, distance, etc…
• Ability to program and save data for one or more users.
• Foldable versus non foldable models.
• Different sizes are offered to ensure proper fit at home or in a commercial setting.
Top Rated Brands And Models Based On Customer Reviews
One example of a recumbent elliptical machine is the HCI PhysioStep. This machine offers many of the features that have been mentioned above and can be used in many different environments, such as your home, as well as hospitals and physiotherapy clinics.
Because it is so versatile, it is possible to choose from a number of different workouts and levels to suit your needs.
Top Rated Models On Amazon
It is so important to find equipment that makes you feel comfortable, and as you can see, with so many models with different functions, settings, positions and prices, you are bound to find the right machine for you.