Why ellipticals are bad for you

Second, later in the Dec. Ed lost 73 pounds on the show, but had this to say about elliptical machines, "I hated the elliptical. It was too easy, I didn't feel like I was doing anything. You see, the third reason elliptical machines are inferior for fat loss is because they fail my "human nature" test. Take people and put them in a gym with treadmills and elliptical machines. Whereas adults are advised to incorporate a minimum of minutes of cardio in their workouts every week, people over 50 years of age should be very careful with elliptical usage.

As you get old, your joints are more vulnerable to arthritis and joint pain. Because of this, elliptical machines should be used only after consulting a doctor. Something else you should be concerned about is your physical health. As much as ellipticals are perfect cardio machines with low impact on your knees, using them in the wrong way could do more harm than good.

Here goes:. The elliptical forces you to exercise on the balls of your feet, which engages the quadriceps muscles. This can pull on the patella, or kneecap, and can cause sharp pains on the top of the knee, also called patellar femoral syndrome. Exercising on the elliptical may exacerbate certain conditions and cause further harm. Whether the elliptical solely responsible for these injuries or they are only aggravated by it, it's best to avoid the elliptical if you have them.

According to Damien Howell Physical Therapy, these include any type of foot injury with pain on the ball of the foot such as collapsed arches, Morton's neuroma, bunion or arthritis, because most elliptical work requires being on your toes. Avoid the elliptical if you have pain in the hips or bottom, also called piriformis syndrome, because the elliptical can further tighten the piriformis and worsen the condition.

The best way to prevent overuse injuries is the change your mode of exercise. The American Council on Exercise recommends 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise on most days of the week. You avoid applying pressure to all parts of your body when you work out on an elliptical trainer. This feature can be both good and bad. It is good because you receive a smooth ride on the machine. However, it can be bad if you want to prevent osteoporosis. In order to increase strength in your bones and muscles, you need to apply weight to them, which allows them to grow stronger.

When you use an elliptical trainer, the lack of pressure can weaken your body. Despite the fact that the elliptical trainer contains a spot for your arms to hold, it primarily focuses on the lower body.