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I heard its bad for you. The shoulders, knees and back known colprits. Be careful
I think it's good for most people. However, I also agree with Where2 with this assessment in some cases. I am a kind of runner (sprints on a treadmill, so diehards think I'm not), and every time I get on the elliptical it bothers my knees. They ache and feel strained. I never experience this while running, so I asked a few trainers about why this happens. They were mystified. They didn't understand why running wouldn't make my knees hurt but an elliptical would. I finally concluded that the problem is ellipticals are just too big for me. I'm very short (5'2"), and most ellipticals don't have an adjustable stride length and are geared for tall people. So my stride length on an elliptical is forced to be longer than my natural stride and it stresses out my knees. So if I don't run, I do the exercise bike instead.
I think it's good for most people. However, I also agree with Where2 with this assessment in some cases. I am a kind of runner (sprints on a treadmill, so diehards think I'm not), and every time I get on the elliptical it bothers my knees. They ache and feel strained. I never experience this while running, so I asked a few trainers about why this happens. They were mystified. They didn't understand why running wouldn't make my knees hurt but an elliptical would. I finally concluded that the problem is ellipticals are just too big for me. I'm very short (5'2"), and most ellipticals don't have an adjustable stride length and are geared for tall people. So my stride length on an elliptical is forced to be longer than my natural stride and it stresses out my knees. So if I don't run, I do the exercise bike instead.
Yeah if you're not the form factor that the machine was designed for it can be rough. I'm a 5'11" male, as average as you can get, and some ellipticals just destroy my lower back. I prefer the treadmill or those "adaptive motion trainers" which are pretty cool.
I think it's good for most people. However, I also agree with Where2 with this assessment in some cases. I am a kind of runner (sprints on a treadmill, so diehards think I'm not), and every time I get on the elliptical it bothers my knees. They ache and feel strained. I never experience this while running, so I asked a few trainers about why this happens. They were mystified. They didn't understand why running wouldn't make my knees hurt but an elliptical would. I finally concluded that the problem is ellipticals are just too big for me. I'm very short (5'2"), and most ellipticals don't have an adjustable stride length and are geared for tall people. So my stride length on an elliptical is forced to be longer than my natural stride and it stresses out my knees. So if I don't run, I do the exercise bike instead.
That makes sense because I have used every elliptical in last 20 years. Some are 16" stride some are up to 20" like the Precor 100i I like at the gym but yes I am 6' so I prefer the Precor 100i and similar machines because they actually have an adjustable stride.
Yeah if you're not the form factor that the machine was designed for it can be rough. I'm a 5'11" male, as average as you can get, and some ellipticals just destroy my lower back. I prefer the treadmill or those "adaptive motion trainers" which are pretty cool.
You might try a bit more bend in your knees. I found my posture was too erect on the elliptical and it was causing knee/lower back issues. I still have the pain but not as bad.
I think the elliptical is better then running low impact plus it gives you a better workout then a treadmill.
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