As anyone who has been to a commercial gym or worked out at a friend’s home gym
knows, the use of exercise equipment as part of a workout can produce results more quickly than exercising without. Different types of equipment produce different results; some help build bigger muscles, some help with stretching and flexibility and some do both. So which home exercise machines work best? There are many different options available and determining which work best is based on everything from fitness needs, to space and budget.
Some of the most common home exercise equipment is the home gym. This equipment is typically used for building muscle and toning the body and comes in different forms. The most common home gyms may use free-weights, exercise machines or a combination of both. While free weights are good for exercise enthusiasts who are familiar with form and technique, people at all levels can safely use a machine-based home fitness gym since it limits motion and ensures good exercise technique.
There are also different types of machine-based home gyms. The traditional described above uses metal weights for resistance and usually requires a lot of room to hold and use the equipment. A more compact and lightweight alternative to these are machines that use a cable and pulley system, employing gravity and body mass for resistance similar to the Bow flex. Exercises are done by lying on a board in various positions and using the cable and pulley, the weight of the person doing the exercises provides the resistance. These machines fold up for easy storage, which is a plus for those with little room for a home gym. One thing to remember is that out of sight is often out of mind and stored exercise equipment can go unused for long periods of time. This equipment is more beneficial for those with an established exercise routine.
Another common piece of home fitness equipment is the treadmill. While this can be an expensive piece of equipment that requires a lot of room, it has many benefits. For instance, a moderately priced treadmill can withstand the rigorous use of an advanced runner and still be safely used by someone new to an exercise routine. In this way, one piece of equipment can safely and effectively be used by the whole family. Also, people can walk or run on a treadmill while watching TV or reading a magazine, which passes the time more quickly. Even people who do not like to exercise may be more likely to do so if they can watch TV or read while doing it.
The elliptical trainer is a newer piece of home exercise equipment that has gained popularity over the last 10-15 years. For many people the elliptical trainer is the ultimate piece of home exercise equipment to own. One reason is that the newer, more modern machines work both the lower and upper body at once, providing a total body workout on one machine. Secondly, the elliptical provides a no impact workout, good for those with joint problems who can no longer withstand the damage running may cause over time on the knees. Another benefit to this machine is that everything from stride length to workout length and resistance can be adjusted allowing for a customized workout for people at any fitness level.
The bottom line on home exercise machines is this: choose a machine that is easy to use, convenient, fits your individual needs and budget. Even the most sophisticated, high-tech exercise machine will be useless if left to sit in a corner collecting dust.