How to Compare Fitness Machines
Many factors are involved when comparing fitness machines, such as how much space the machine takes up, how many calories it burns within a certain amount of time, how stressful the machine is on your joints and how much the exercise machine costs.
- Choose an exercise machine or exercise equipment that burns enough calories according to your fitness goals. Treadmills, cross-country machines, stair climbers and rowing machines are the most effective exercise machines regarding burning calories. Rowing machines and stationary bikes come in just below this class of machines regarding calories burned. According to the August, 2001 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, a 140-pound person burns 286 calories for every half hour spent exercising on a stair climber. Using a stationary bike burns 223 calories during the same amount of time.
- Choose an exercise machine that fits in your budget. Generally, the larger and more complex the machine, the more it costs. Treadmills are some of the most expensive exercise machines. Treadmills are large and have computerized and motorized parts. Elliptical machines are cheaper because they have no motor.
- Select an exercise machine that doesn't stress your joints too much. Although treadmills are king among exercise machines for burning calories, treadmill running can be a form of exercise that is hard on the leg joints. Rowing machines and stationery bikes allow the user to stay seated, which is less stressful on joints.
- See how much space you have to dedicate to your exercise machine. The amount of space you have available dictates the dimensions of the exercise machine that you purchase.