February 22, 2006

By: Ingrid Kelly
Website: http://www.1st-in-fitness.com

Cardiac study highlights ellipticals' low-impact workout advantage over treadmill

Elliptical cross trainers offer greater cardiac benefits at the same exertion and lower impact than a treadmill, according to a University of Mississippi study investigating ellipticals as a tool for low-impact cardiac rehabilitation.

The study, published in The Journal of Exercise Physiologyonline, compared cardiopulmonary responses of elliptical cross training versus treadmill walking for patients recovering from cardiac disease. The study was conducted in a coronary artery disease rehabilitation setting under the direction of Len Kravitz, Ph.D. Precor EFX 546 Elliptical Fitness Cross Trainers were utilized in the independent study.

The study concluded that at the same level of exertion, subjects on Precor elliptical cross trainer used 12 percent more oxygen and experienced greater cardiopulmonary activity than on a treadmill. Study subjects were measured in terms of oxygen consumption, heart rate, blood pressure and expired ventilation. Exertion was measured according to the Borg scale of Relative Perceived Exertion - the clinically recognized standard in exercise testing, training, rehabilitation and ergonomics.

Treadmills, cycle ergometers, and rowing machines are the most common forms of exercise for CAD patients, with treadmills currently recognized as providing the best blend of exercise and perceived exertion. However, impact issues prevent some patients from using a treadmill.

Dr. Kravitz said that the study confirms other investigations with healthy populations that elliptical training yields comparable caloric expenditure values as the treadmill, without the impact.

"CAD patients are similar in fitness capacity to the vast deconditioned population we see in fitness clubs throughout the nation. Thus, elliptical cross-training appears to be an excellent modality for deconditioned individuals starting exercises programs," Dr. Kravitz explained.

Chris Torggler, vice president of commercial sales for Precor, noted that learnings of the study extend beyond cardiac rehabilitation.

"These findings demonstrate that the EFX offers superior aerobic exercise with low impact - which can be key to achieving a variety of fitness objectives, from improving your cardiac health to losing weight," said Torggler.

Lead researcher Kravitz noted that the combination of speed, intensity and ramp elevation of the Precor elliptical creates the opportunity to easily tailor an appropriate workout experience. He added that the ease of adjusting workout intensity also reduces the risk of overtraining and injury.

Author Notes:

Ingrid Kelly contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-fitness.com.  A source of information and helpful tips on various types of fitness equipment.