There are many types of equipments in the market today that help one exercise in a nice manner. The latest type of equipments that have become extremely popular with both gym visitors and home fitness enthusiasts are the elliptical trainers. As a means of cardiovascular training, these equipments enable the exercisers to lose weight and also tone their entire bodies.

These trainer machines are stationary exercising machines used to stimulate running and/or walking. They are designed not to cause too much pressure on the joints, thereby decreasing the risk of impact injuries. They are basically a combination of a stair stepper and a ski machine. Yet, they have all the functions of cycling and rowing, too. That is why the elliptical trainers can provide exercisers with a complete workout option.

An elliptical trainer offers the user a non-impact cardio workout that can differ from light to high density, depending on the preference of resistance. Almost all elliptical trainers are made in way that they work the lower and upper body of the user. Each elliptical trainer is designed to elevate the rate of the heart of the user, more than muscle building. They can be easily powered by AC electricity for motion adjustment, and/or for supplying their resistance systems and electronic consoles.

Currently, elliptical trainers incorporate resistance that is adjustable. This resistance can be acquired via electromagnetic or magnetic devices or a friction belt. On the other hand, some elliptical models have the incline of sloping roller ramps underneath the pedal links. These links can be adjusted to produce different pedal motion paths.

Most of the mechatronic elliptical trainers can vary in both resistance and incline in accordance to a preset program over the course of a workout regimen. In fact, some elliptical trainers can also be driven in a forward and reverse direction.

As elliptical trainers are mainly driven by the legs, most models are designed with handle levers attached to every pedal link. This enables the user to shift the burden on the arms, and provide a secondary source for deriving power. The user can grip the handles below the height of the shoulder, and push or pull them while shuffling the feet front and back, within their elliptically shaped paths. These functions enable the user to use the users with ease even at home, without a professional trainer.

This is one of the major reasons why nowadays most people buy elliptical trainers for their homes. Priced between a few hundred dollars and several thousand dollars, the machines are available in various sizes. Though these machines are cheap, they are more advanced than treadmills.