Can Elliptical trainers replace running for cardio

[WAREAGLE]

Iv been having alot of problems w/ my knees and shins from running, so i switched to the eliptical trainer I do 30- 45 min w/ Intervals thrown in, It's not as hard as sprints as far as lungs burning...so I throw burpees in 3-5x a week along w/ my standup and jujitsu sessions..

Does this seem okay, blending Eclipse machine w/ burpees for comprehensive Cardio training in regards to MMA!

 

[Ian Coe]

Sparring?


I assume this is supplement work, right.

I guess it could help with aerobic capacity. I'm fucked at the mo when it comes to training becaus of a ankle injury, so I'm having to tick by with the eltipical and complexes.

I feel gay for using the eliptical though

Have you tried running on grass btw

 

[Clint07]

I would imagine that the elliptical machine would be fine for distance running, although sprints won't work as well. Maybe try doing sprint sessions on grass and all of your distance work on the elliptical machine. If that still gives you too much trouble then keep doing what you're doing and see how it goes.

 

[SnowMongoose]

Elliptical works just fine, it's all about getting your heart rate up and keeping it there.
Grass/Gravel/etc are good calls as well... tried switching up running shoes?
When my knee was bothering me, I went to a running store and had them take a look at my gait, they reccomended some shoes that supported me much better, no problems since.

 

[Mark Limbaga]

That would be fine

 

[Edog30]

There is no replacement for running, but more running.
However, an Eliptical machine can give you a great cardio workout.

 

[frettish]

I do HIIT on elipticals all the time, especially in the winter when it's snowy and I can't sprint outside.

Set the resistance on the highest setting and and fuckin wheel that thing as fast as you can.

If you've got a good elliptical that has a very tough resistance, you can easily achieve max capacity when it comes to heart rate.

Running will always be superior because it works more muscles and it's harder to "cheat", but strictly speaking for cardiovascular health / wind / endurance / etc, you can still get a really effective workout on an elliptical.

 

[Tone C]

Sparring?



Have you tried running on grass btw

Its better for you and softer on knees/ankles etc than concrete/tarmac.Just don't do what I did one day when I stepped on a nail hidden in the grass....straight thru my decent(newish) Asics and into the sole of my left foot,opening up a hole about an 3/4 inch wide and long in it and stopping about 1/2 inch in.It was straight off to hospital(which I'm lucky is about 5 mins away).They had to dig round/clean it etc then Xray to make sure they got any metal out...and I piled on 2 1/2 stone in weight...couldnt run,cycle properly,train etc...shitter..

 

[Clint07]

I do HIIT on elipticals all the time, especially in the winter when it's snowy and I can't sprint outside.

Set the resistance on the highest setting and and fuckin wheel that thing as fast as you can.

If you've got a good elliptical that has a very tough resistance, you can easily achieve max capacity when it comes to heart rate.

Running will always be superior because it works more muscles and it's harder to "cheat", but strictly speaking for cardiovascular health / wind / endurance / etc, you can still get a really effective workout on an elliptical.

I'll have to try that. I just took my parent's elliptical machine from their house since they don't use it but i couldn't figure out how to sprint on the damn thing.

 

[Revok]

Its better for you and softer on knees/ankles etc than concrete/tarmac.Just don't do what I did one day when I stepped on a nail hidden in the grass....straight thru my decent(newish) Asics and into the sole of my left foot,opening up a hole about an 3/4 inch wide and long in it and stopping about 1/2 inch in.It was straight off to hospital(which I'm lucky is about 5 mins away).They had to dig round/clean it etc then Xray to make sure they got any metal out...and I piled on 2 1/2 stone in weight...couldnt run,cycle properly,train etc...shitter..

lol. Oh shit, thanks for the paranoia. Also I remember someone saying once that they stepped in a gopher hole and fucked up their leg for years afterwards. And then there's the dog shit...

Still, grass > everything else.

 

[Ian Coe]

Its better for you and softer on knees/ankles etc than concrete/tarmac.Just don't do what I did one day when I stepped on a nail hidden in the grass....straight thru my decent(newish) Asics and into the sole of my left foot,opening up a hole about an 3/4 inch wide and long in it and stopping about 1/2 inch in.It was straight off to hospital(which I'm lucky is about 5 mins away).They had to dig round/clean it etc then Xray to make sure they got any metal out...and I piled on 2 1/2 stone in weight...couldnt run,cycle properly,train etc...shitter..

you are one unlucky S.O.B man


any lasting damage?

 

[Tone C]

you are one unlucky S.O.B man


any lasting damage?

Apart from the 2 1/2 stone,no!:icon_lol:

It took about 6 months before it had healed enough to run on again,although I was training on it earlier than that albeit in a reduced capacity...I kept ripping it each time..only a little but you can imagine how that is trying to heal something on the sole of your foot....walking,cycling,running all effect it...

 

[Tone C]

lol. Oh shit, thanks for the paranoia. Also I remember someone saying once that they stepped in a gopher hole and fucked up their leg for years afterwards. And then there's the dog shit...

Still, grass > everything else.

What was fun was taking my shoe off and seeing my nice white sock had gone a lovely shade of scarlet...and I tipped the shoe upside down and blood was happily dribbling out.Funny thing was as I was hobbling down to get an ambulance up to the hospital(I live 5 mins walk from a hospital and about 1 min from an ambulance station...which has come in useful during training once or twice) this guy stops in a very nice new Mercedes and asked was I okay and could he give me a lift as I was in pain/trouble...I'd have loved to see his face if I accepted and put blood all over the insides of his immaculate car...still,top geezer for offering.

 

[WAREAGLE]

yea i saw Frank and ken Shamrock both use Ellipticals for Cardio....im gonna have to get a Hr monitor that I can figure out...any suggestions on that??

 

[musclemax]

Hmmm...


I take it to be that the main purpose of running is to use your stronger muscles (legs) to push your heat rate up (cardio).

If this is the case, then whatever you find to be as effective in raising your heart rate as running is just as good (elliptical can raise your cardio too).

I find that the elliptical can be a very very close replacement for running.

As for interval training, I think nothing beats sprints/jogging.

Running in the grass or sand or anything soft is an excellent idea.

I also read on an interview that Frank Shamrock prefers to use an elliptical to running cuz he wants to be careful with this knees.

Just my opinion.

 

[frettish]

I'll have to try that. I just took my parent's elliptical machine from their house since they don't use it but i couldn't figure out how to sprint on the damn thing.

Well, for home-gym ellipticals, it can be hit or miss. I have never once seen a home-gym elliptical that looks like it's worth the metal it's made of. The ones they have at the gym I go to are actually called "natural runners", and they're like $4,000. But it's a very flat plane that your foot travels and they are very sturdy... and the top level of resistance is really, REALLY fucking stiff. You can barely move the pedals without using a good amount of force. I would imagine even olympic sprinters would get winded within 60 seconds going max effort against the highest resistance setting.

The home-gym ellipticals that I have seen have had way too much up/down motion to the stride, which would make max effort sprints a lot harder to do... (you should be able to "run" on an elliptical very quickly and keep your upper body and head dead still with very, very minimal effort. it's fine to bob up and down a little bit during a workout... but on home-gym ellitpicals, you are going up/down so much this will be a lot harder to do.)

Plus, I think the vigorous workouts I put the gym ellitpicals through, I probably would have broken at least a couple of the consumer grade ones by now...

 

[Clint07]

I actually tried the sprints today and they worked, I ended up winded really quickly. But I see what are saying about there being too much up & down motion it makes the "sprints" really akward and they turn into something that feels very little like an actual sprint.

But winter is coming and it does the task (Makes me out of breath) so it will have to work.

 

[bttchutefan]

Depending on where you live, look into running on sand. Very low impact and great workout for your legs.

 

[Centaur]

I do HIIT on elipticals all the time, especially in the winter when it's snowy and I can't sprint outside.

Set the resistance on the highest setting and and fuckin wheel that thing as fast as you can.

If you've got a good elliptical that has a very tough resistance, you can easily achieve max capacity when it comes to heart rate.

Running will always be superior because it works more muscles and it's harder to "cheat", but strictly speaking for cardiovascular health / wind / endurance / etc, you can still get a really effective workout on an elliptical.

I do that sometimes too. Espeacially if my ankles are fucked from Muay Thai. I do HIIT and add more resistance after each "cycle".

And ya, the part that's BOLD is very true.

 

[TDonovan]

Depending on where you live, look into running on sand. Very low impact and great workout for your legs.

That is easily the worst advice I have ever heard. Contrary to what you might think, running on sand is not a good idea at all.

As far as elliptical trainers, I am not a fan. I really don't like any machine that replaces running, and the only machine I DO think works fairly well is an exercise bike (a normal bike would be just as good if not better). There is just no subsitute for running on real ground. Pick whatever surface you'd like (grass IS nicer on the joints), but I think treadmills and elliptical trainers are a poor substitute.