There are two kinds of people who hit the gym – that fitness enthusiast friend of yours who won’t stop raving about her newly developed washboard abs and then, well, the rest of us. Quite frankly, the gym can be an intimidating experience, especially if you’re a beginner and don’t know what the strange-looking pieces of equipment are and how they work. So you stick to what you do know, such as the treadmill and barbells. In the process, you tend to ignore some of the most effective equipment, such as the stair climber.
The stair climber rarely receives any love from most gym-goers. Here are some pointers straight from the horse’s mouth about what it is, how it works, and why you should start using it now.
What Is The Stair Climber?
Think of it as a mini-escalator with revolving stairs with handrails. As the stairs revolve, you just walk on the spot to achieve the benefits of climbing an actual staircase. While climbing stairs is the primary workout that the equipment is meant for, you can perform a bunch of other exercises like jump squats and crossover steps.
Benefits Of The Stair Climber
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty details of the stair climber, and why you need to start using it!
1. Strengthens Your Butt Muscles
Since climbing stairs involves a workout of your lower body, a stair climber can help you stay in shape. It strengthens your gluteus medius, which runs along the length of your hips and buttocks. It also firms up the thigh and leg muscles, which are the most problematic areas.
2. Improves Aerobic Capacity
While running is the perfect way to improve cardiovascular activity, it requires you to be fit enough. If you’re just starting off, then opting for the stair climber is the way to go. It gets your heart rate up in a matter of minutes and builds endurance.
3. Strengthens Bones
Stair climbers are low-impact but weight-bearing equipment. And weight-bearing activities are known to help strengthen bones. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, it is important that anybody with brittle or broken bones avoid high-impact exercises. Weight-bearing workouts like stair climbers, on the other hand, can make your bones stronger and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.1
4. Burns Fat
Excessive fat can increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. To shed the extra pounds, opt for a 30-minute workout session on the stair climber. It is said to burn approximately 500 calories in under 30 minutes! Now, isn’t that some good news?
5. Builds Muscle
If you’re wondering whether there’s anything this machine can’t help you achieve, here’s another stunner. The stair climber also helps you build muscle. It works all the main muscles in your lower body – glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. It also tones the muscle and enhances your resting metabolism.
6. Trains Your Body For More Intensive Workouts
We’ve already said that the stair climber is a perfect choice for beginners to work their lower body. But, as you proceed, it’s necessary to incorporate more intensive exercises into your workout routine. And stair climbers can effectively train your body to handle strenuous workouts. Also, if you’re interested in hiking, stair climbers can prepare your body for the uphill climb.2
Don’t forget to warm up before trying the stair climbers. If you want to up the intensity of the exercise, try performing jump squats or cross steps on the stair climber. Also, make sure that you don’t put your weight on the handrails as this can take the pressure off your legs. If you’re unable to balance yourself, reduce the speed of the machine. Now, the next time you hit the gym you know exactly where you need to head to!
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