Have you heard of elliptical crosstrainers? It’s a fairly new concept – less than a decade old. You’re probably familiar with treadmills – they’ve been around a lot longer – but what do you know about ellipticals? Do you know what they look like? Do you know what they do?

This article is designed to educate you in the field of fitness equipment, specifically ellipticals. We want to teach you how ellipticals work. We’d like you to have a working understanding of these great fitness machines. They really are a benefit to any exercise program.

Why were ellipticals invented?

Let’s look first at basically what ellipticals are, and why they were invented, without going into too much technological detail. The need for ellipticals arose out of the need for a no-impact exercise machine that would get your heart racing, thereby providing the cardiovascular exercise your heart needs, as well as tone and strengthen your muscles. There are many fitness machines on the market today, but most are directed at only a portion of the exercise your body needs. One machine may be good for your cardiovascular, while neglecting your muscles. Some concentrate on only one portion of your body, like your upper body only, or your lower body only. Treadmills are a good example of the type of machine that leave out at least one important part.

Enter ellipticals – the total-body workout

Elliptical trainers, or crosstrainers, as they’re sometimes called, are one of the most popular and fastest growing workout machines in the industry. They offer an exceptional cardiovascular workout, while reducing stress on the joints. Their fluid motion strengthens the muscles of the glutes (butt), thighs, calves, arms, shoulders, chest and back without straining the joints. They’re perfect for the beginner or for the fine-tuned athlete.