Exercise can be uncomfortable for some – and we’re not just talking about pushing yourself to your limits. For people with old injuries, chronic pain or limited mobility, many standard exercises are simply too difficult or painful to complete.

Take running: the oldest form of exercise can also be one of the most jarring – it’s called pounding the pavement for a reason.

The good news: there are a wealth of low-impact cardio workouts that can be as high intensity as you want. And one of the best is offered by elliptical trainers.

In this guide we’ll take a closer look at this type of low-impact exercise equipment, looking at elliptical trainer benefits, elliptical trainer effectiveness, full-body elliptical workouts, and the best elliptical workouts for joint pain.

 

Full-body benefits of elliptical trainers

Ellipticals, aka cross trainers, offer full-body fitness with far less discomfort. They are designed to replicate the movements of running, minus the jarring impacts.

These machines feature a fly wheel that is turned by moving handle bars and footrests. This creates smooth, zero-impact motion while engaging your arms, core and legs all at once, working more muscles than you would through running and most other cardio activities.

Ellipticals also allow you to choose your own workout intensity through changes in resistance and incline. Dial the intensity up and you can burn serious calories. A lower intensity workout, meanwhile, can be ideal for those who are looking to start their fitness journey, build mobility or rehabilitate from injury.

 

Debunking common myths

Elliptical machines can get a bad rap from certain gym-goers – but often this reputation isn’t earned. Misconceptions around ellipticals include:

  • They’re too easy to use: Some people believe these machines are less effective than running or cycling for improving fitness – but by engaging the entire body, and allowing you to choose your own cardio intensity, ellipticals provide an excellent low-impact cardiovascular workout.
  • They don’t burn enough calories: As above, this whole body workout can be incredible for burning calories if you’re willing to up the intensity.
  • The handles are for support: Sure, the handles of an elliptical can provide extra stability for those who need it, but they can also offer a serious workout to your arms, shoulders, back and core.
  • They don’t build strength:Unlike a lot of other forms of cardio, ellipticals can build your strength and tone your muscle if you increase your intensity.

Why ellipticals are joint-friendly

The low impact action of an elliptical machine helps to reduce stress on your joints in a few different ways.

Both of your feet are always in contact with the elliptical’s foot rests, so there are no jarring impacts from hitting the ground. The elliptical's fluid motion also reduces stress on the knees, hips and right up through your spine.

An elliptical combines the upright motion of running with the smooth and circular motion of bike riding to create a comfortable form of cardio that is as effective for people with arthritis as it is for fitness fanatics.

How to maximise your elliptical workout

Whether you’re doing a full-body elliptical workout, a low-impact cardio workout, or you’re looking for the best elliptical workout for joint pain, here are some quick tips to maximise the benefits you get from your machine:

  • Focus on form: As with any exercise, proper technique is critical on an elliptical. Adjust the handles and footrests as necessary, maintain an upright posture with a slight lean forward, then follow the machine where it guides you.
  • Increase the incline and resistance: Depending on your machine, you may be able to make your workout harder or steeper, to work the muscles of your lower body a little bit harder.
  • Focus on the handles: Want more of an upper-body workout? Focus your effort on the handles to work and develop your arms, shoulders and chest.
  • Hit reverse: Alternate between pedalling forwards and backwards to target different muscle groups and enhance your coordination and balance.
  • Add intervals: Consider incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your routine, where short bursts of intense exercise are broken up with recovery periods.
  • Go long, go hard: Build endurance and maximise fat burn by aiming for at least 20-30 minutes of continuous exercise at a decent pace.

Choosing the right elliptical trainer

All elliptical trainers work in more or less the same way. But there are plenty of differences in terms of features, functionality and quality, so it’s wise to shop around before you commit to a specific machine. Options include:

  • Circle Fitness E-Series: Circle Fitness machines are known for their quality and innovation, no matter whether you choose the budget-friendly E6, the mid-range E7 or the top-of-the-line E8
  • Horizon Andes: Horizon’s 3.1 and 7.1 models both offer a challenging yet comfortable workout, with large foot pads, adjustable resistance levels and plenty of workout tracking tech.
  • Matrix E30 Suspension Elliptical: Offering what could be the smoothest exercise experience on the market, the Matrix E30 also allows you to choose your preferred digital display, from a basic readout up to a 16" HD screen.
  • Bodyworx EFX650: A strong machine that can comfortably handle up to 135kg and has a stride length of almost 50cm, the robust EFX650 engages muscles that other, shorter-stride ellipticals don’t.
  • Matrix A30 Ascent Trainer: Looking for a workout that’s a little more challenging? The Matrix A30 places elliptical motion in a stair climber, to help you target your quads and glutes.

GymQuip: low-impact cardio specialists

Home to one of Australia’s largest fitness showrooms, at GymQuip we have been helping people enjoy low impact, choose-your-own-intensity cardio exercise for over 30 years. We stock a complete range of ellipticals and cross-trainers, as well as rowing machines, exercise bikes, step machines and more.

While our showroom is large, our online store is even larger. We deliver Australia-wide, orders are shipped within 24 hours, and our entire range is covered by our price beat guarantee: if you find one of our products cheaper elsewhere, we’ll beat that price.

Ready to capitalise on the fully-body, low impact, intense exercise that ellipticals offer? We’re ready to help! Get in touch with our friendly team today to find your perfect cross training machine.