Elliptical Trainers Growing in Popularity

Treadmills may still be very popular at health clubs. And stationary bikes seem to be making a comeback, but the fitness equipment that is growing the fastest in popularity is the elliptical trainer. Their use has increased 158% in the past five years. The growth as increased from 1.1 million users to 6.7 million. The growing popularity of elliptical trainers and stationary bikes may be a result of the rising number of older Americans. The low-impact workout they provide seems to be appealing to the over 55 crowd. It also is attracting younger users who are concerned about injuries. In comparison treadmills can be high-impact, particularly if you are a runner or jogger. It is estimated that the impact of a runner on a treadmill is 2.5 times the users weight. That consists of quite a jolt to ankles, knees and your back. What are the Benefits of an Elliptical Trainers? If you lead a very busy lifestyle! Squeezing in sufficient time for exercise is next to impossible. But, what if I told you that you could get an efficient workout in less time on an elliptical exercise machine? That's right! Because ellipticals are capable of exercising both the upper AND lower body at the same time, you can get in a great exercise session in as little as 20 minutes. Now, 20 minutes is hardly anything out of a 24-hour day! Surely you can spare so little time for the sake of your body's fitness? What other factors make an elliptical training machine beneficial? One fact that instantly comes to mind is that this type of equipment is VERY low-impact! For this reason, alone, the elliptical would be ideal for older individuals who want to get in shape or maintain their current level of fitness. It would also be good for those who are rehabilitating from running injuries. Elliptical trainers still lag behind treadmills in overall popularity, with 10.9 treadmill users. The primary reason is that anyone can walk. But the treadmill only works the lower body, and elliptical trainer offers both an upper and lower body workout. You workout more of the body without beating up your joints. The first impression with an elliptical trainer can be intimidating, but once people try them they tend to be hooked. For the most part they are easy to operate, but many models have a variety of challenging programs.