Elliptical trainer

Commercial elliptical trainer (rear drive version)
Row of elliptical trainers at a gym (right)
ElliptiGO trainers are elliptical but not stationary.

An elliptical trainer or cross-trainer is a stationary exercise machine used to stair climb, walk, or run without causing excessive pressure to the joints, hence decreasing the risk of impact injuries.[citation needed] For this reason, people with some injuries can use an elliptical to stay fit, as the low impact affects them little. Elliptical trainers offer a non-impact cardiovascular workout that can vary from light to high intensity based on the speed of the exercise and the resistance preference set by the user.

Elliptical trainers first entered the market in the 1990s, invented by Precor.[1]

Most elliptical trainers work the user's upper and lower body (although some models do not have moving upper body components). Though elliptical trainers are considered to be minimal-impact, they are an example of a weight-bearing form of exercise.[2] They can be self-powered by user-generated motion or need to be plugged in for adjustment of motion and/or for supplying their electronic consoles and resistance systems.

  1. ^ Wallack, Roy (April 27, 2013). "The latest in popular ellipticals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  2. ^ Briley, John L. (July 27, 2004). "Bone Health: A Weight-Bearing Argument". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2008.