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Most of us invest in some home gym machines in an effort to save time spend in gyms. Here are some pros and cons of some of the most common gym machines which are being used at homes.
Treadmills are of two types — motorised/ non-motorised and can have features like incline. The motorised treadmill should not be used by the persons who are not able to cope with a continuous speed of the motor, for example people with poor reflexes resulting from old age or some neurological disorder. Features like incline should only be used by persons who are fit and/or young. Those having joint pains or backache should avoid it. The beginners should start with slow speed and should gradually increase the speed and their time on the treadmill over a period of time. The heart patients should use caution while using a treadmill. It should be used only after consultation with a cardiologist. Overweight persons should not do excessive workout on the treadmill. If they do so over a long period of time without taking dietary considerations into account, they have the risk of causing damage to the weight-bearing joints like knees, ankle and spine and hips. Ideally, one should reduce weight by taking low-calorie diet and doing unloading exercises like swimming, cycling, or using cross trainers etc. Once the weight is normal, it should be maintained by using treadmill. The persons with pain in the knee joints/ ankle joints and back should use it after consultation with an orthopaedic specialist. The treadmill works mainly on the core muscle and lower limb muscles. In a freehand treadmill, even upper limb muscles are also used. A major precaution before using the treadmill is that one should always warm up by doing some stretching exercises. The footwear should be proper while using a treadmill otherwise one may end up with heel/ foot/ ankle pain.
Exercisecycle is less loading on the weight-bearing joints in comparison to the treadmill. However, a cycle requires free movements of the ankle, knee and hip joint, so persons who suffer from stiffness of these joints should consult a sports physiotherapist before using it. The height of the seat of the cycle should be adjusted otherwise one may end up with backache. Obese persons, while sitting on the seat of an upright cycle without back support, are prone to develop backache. For such people, recumbent cycles available in the market. The exercisecycle mainly works on the lower limb muscles. For core and upper limb muscles exercisecycle does not have much use. Cross trainer It is one of the best machines for the household purchaser because it results in exercise of almost all muscles groups of the body but without the disadvantage of unnecessary loading of the weight-bearing joints. Also there is hardly any risk of backache. Crosstrainers combine the advantages of a treadmill, a stepper as well as a cycle. —The writer is orthopaedic surgeon and sports injury specialist, Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32,Chandigarh
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Treadmill
Exercisecycle