Top 6 Advantages of Orbitrek or Elliptical Machine

Fitness is a top priority if you want to live a healthy life. But when it comes to exercising most of the people have some sort of excuse and the most common one is lack of time.

Going to the gym, taking time out of a busy schedule is undoubtedly difficult for top class professionals and career-oriented people. Nevertheless, fitness is equally important. That is why nowadays, people opt for an elliptical machine that offers a one-stop exercising solution. A half an hour routine on this machine is just enough if you want to stay fit.

So what is an Orbitrek or Elliptical machine? It is common gym equipment that needs a very small space and can be purchased for working out at home. Safer than a treadmill, it is equally good for those who are recovering from fracture injury. Usually, you will find it in a health or gym club in its cardio section. This stationary equipment with foot pedals and two long handles mimics the pattern of movement that you experience while climbing stairs, running, or walking. That is why it is considered to be an effective, full-body workout. 

1. Helps In Weight Loss

With the help of an elliptical machine, you can lose somewhere around 150 to 400 calories in just 30 minutes. The results may vary depending upon the elliptical speed and your current weight. Importantly, as compared to other machines the exertion level with the elliptical is very less and hence your energy levels continue to remain good enough for doing other exercises.          

According to studies, cross trainers are one of the best options as compared to exercise bikes and stair climbers. Its effectiveness in terms of calories burned can be equal to treadmill results but is much easier. Of course, various factors such as current fitness level, gender, and age decide how much weight you lose.    

2. Gentle On Your Joints

This exercise is very gentle on your joints and hence makes a very low impact on them. The movements are very gentle on the knees and simply great for people above 50 years or for those who are in the phase of rehabilitation after an injury to the knee or facing issues such as knee arthritis or osteoporosis.  When you walk or run on a treadmill, it can create a high impact on the joints which is why the elliptical machine is a much better alternative for those who have sensitive joints.

3. Gives Workout To Whole Body

While you are working out on this machine your entire body gets the exercise. From toning the muscles to providing a full-body workout the pulling and pushing pedals and holding the handles ensures that your entire upper body including chest and shoulders get the right kind of exercise. Similarly, your lower body including glutes also gets a great workout. The machine offers you the option to increase resistance or introducing an alternative to pedal backward at intervals. 

Importantly, this machine can be tailored for targeting specific muscle groups as per requirement like toning the core and abdominal muscles, targeting hip flexors, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves with stair-climbing action and more. These workouts help to lose extra fat from the lower body especially the thighs, hips, and lower belly area.   

4. For A Stronger You

Usually, resistance training is recommended for making the muscles strong. But cross-training with elliptical machines can be an excellent option or a supplementary workout for improving the overall muscle strength. It is also good for doing recovery exercises after a strenuous strength training workout. The only precaution you need to take while using it as a recovery exercise is to keep both the heart rate and resistance at a low level as compared to the other high-intensity exercises.   

5. Boosts Overall Heart-health

Heart health is crucial for good health and long life. When you spend 20 to 30 minutes on the elliptical machine it increases your heart rate thereby strengthening the cardiovascular muscles. Similarly, regular workout on the cross trainer reduces stress and releases the feel-good hormone serotonin that helps to bring the blood pressure levels down. 

6. Workout With Varying Intensity

This is one exercise that offers a varying ranges of intensities so that you can create a routine that is effective for all your body parts. From mimicking brisk walk, running to challenging stair climb you can try out all these workout levels by simply varying the elliptical machine’s resistance setting. Those interested in improving their fitness level can mix high intensity and low-intensity levels.