The heart is like a person. The muscles have to be strengthened in order to perform physical tasks. Now since the heart is the organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the bodys system then it should be exposed to various cardio trainings via different exercise equipment.
There are lots of machines and devices available in you local gym and sporting goods store. The treadmill has been around for quite some time. It offers a rotating belt that allows you to walk, jog, and run your way towards a healthy heart.
A modified version of the treadmill is the elliptical machine. You ride a platform and swing your legs back and forth to obtain the desired heart rate for proper conditioning. It has an additional benefit of not putting your joints under wear and tear situations.
Climbing a flight of stairs can trigger your heart to pump faster. This is mimicked by a machine called the stair climber. It can pose a more challenging routine as compared to the regular treadmill and elliptical machine.
You can ride your way towards a strong heart via stationary cycles. There are recumbent models that allow you too to have a more relaxed posture thus preventing lower back straining. Rowing machines are also present in gyms which give you the chance to heighten your hearts capacity by simulating boat rowing.
You have been introduced to the various cardio machines that are involved in standard training sessions but do you know how such contraptions really affect the functioning of your heart? Routines performed on these machines boost the strength and conditioning of your heart by increasing your heart rate for a given period. Actually its the large muscle groups at work that really tell your heart to do extra pumps. Each activity of these muscles demand increased oxygen supply and the only way to deliver this oxygen requirement is by delivering more blood to the muscles.
Now that you have a clearer physiological picture, lets go to the factors that may affect your choice of cardio equipment. You have to build a certain liking for the machine. You wont be productive if youre not enjoying the company of the contraption. At this point your efforts are useless and you dont get maximum benefits.
You have to determine if you have a certain condition that will only be exaggerated once you perform your routines on a machine. If you have joint problems in your lower extremity then the treadmill might not work to your advantage. You have an office work and you remain idle on your seat for the whole day then the stationary bike wont be compatible with your needs.
Another thing to look at when you deal with machines is the actual time that you spend on it. You have to allot a good five to ten minutes of warm-up time before going to your actual routine making sure that intensity levels are kept low. Afterwards you can proceed to the workout that may last from twenty to sixty minutes basically depending on your preference. You close the deal with another five to ten minutes of low intensity warm-down time. Machine usage should be scheduled three to five times weekly.
When planning to engage in cardio exercises its not enough that you know the equipment. Whats more important is that you are aware of the physiological processes that occur during each routine. A good assessment of what you need and should avoid is a plus.