PRIME MACHINE
The skinny on three popular pieces of exercise equipment for the home.
Having a piece of exercise equipment at home means being able to use it without concern for your gym or anyone else's schedule, saving on yearly membership costs and eliminating travel to and from the gym. The cost of these machines can range from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. The idea is to avoid the infamous treadmill in the corner that serves as a psuedo closet.
So what machine is best? Simple. The one you will actually use. The following paragraphs will describe the advantages and disadvantages of three types of machines: treadmills, elliptical trainers and stairclimbers.
Treadmills vary in cost from $200-$5,000, making them appropriate for a range of budgets. One advantage of owning a treadmill is it allows for a range of workout intensity. You can walk or run, or incline for additional strengthening and cardiovascular demand. Many include pre-programmed workouts, DVD or MP3 players, and fold-up capabilities for storage. The disadvantage is, regardless of incline or speed, a treadmill still requires walking or running. This impact can be aggravating to conditions such as osteoarthritis. If you use exercise time to catch up on your reading, a treadmill may not be the ideal choice.
Elliptical trainers have become quite popular over the last decade. They mimic the walking and running pattern with a smooth arc or ellipse. The feet are kept on a step throughout the motion, so there is no impact. Variable resistance is usually available so increased intensity is an option. Like treadmills, a wide variety of price ranges are available for elliptical trainers ($300-$5,000), with similar technological gadgets like DVD and MP3 players, as well as programmable settings. Advantages are decreased impact as well as the ability to have arm-specific exercise to increase calorie burn. Also, some are self-powered, meaning the machine does not have to be plugged into an electrical outlet and reading is definitely doable. Disadvantages are that ellipticals tend to take up a little more room and tend to be more expensive than treadmills.
Stairclimbers are used for a wider range of strength training options and increased resistance. As resistance is increased, strengthening comes into play. Costs range from less than $150 to over $2,000. Models include small machines with hydraulics for resistance that can be slipped under a bed, and large options with extensive electronics. Like elliptical trainers, you can easily read while exercising on a stairclimber. The main disadvantage is that there is far less variability in the exercise programs, making stairclimbers the least versatile of the three.
Fitness
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