The point of the exercise is to improve one’s health, right? If exercising tires your body to the extent that you develop injuries or other serious problems, you need to consult a doctor right away. One exercise or rather machine that is increasing in popularity each day is the elliptical. It is indeed hard to find anything bad about the elliptical. It is inexpensive and can help you get a top-notch workout.
However, is the elliptical bad for knees or can ellipticals cause knee pain? These are questions that are on every elliptical owner’s mind. Several reports suggest that using the elliptical can cause damage to the knees, or it can cause knee pain. While we cannot test the veracity of these claims, what we can do is guide you on how to protect knees on an elliptical.
Let’s start.
Avoiding Knee Pain – Top Tips
Exercise Within the Body’s Limits
Remember, if you are trying to lose weight, it will take considerable time. Do not over-push your body or try to test its limits. In the hope of losing weight fast, many people opt for rigorous training exercises. They push too hard on the pedals. At the start, you will feel that you are doing much good. You might even take a selfie or share the details with friends and family. But after a while, the knee pain will start to creep in, which is undoubtedly unpleasant. Therefore, stop pushing your body’s limits. Increase the workout’s intensity and duration incrementally. Excess of everything is bad. So, if you overwork, the ellipticals will cause knee pain.
Eating Right
Excessive dieting and exercise do not go hand in hand. Many people opt for a strict diet plan while using the elliptical. The result? Knee pain. Keep in mind that training on the elliptical is no child’s play. It is a machine designed for serious workouts. If you do not supply your body with the right nutrients, the elliptical workouts will surely lead to knee pain. You can search online or consult a nutritionist for an appropriate diet plan. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D are incredibly beneficial for the joints. So, you can opt for such foods as a preventive measure against knee pain.
Body Posture
Exercise in front of a large mirror to assess your body’s posture while exercising on the elliptical. Most people that complain of knee pain after using the elliptical fail to recognize that their posture plays a significant role. If the posture is incorrect, it can cause knee pain. The best thing to do while using an elliptical is to keep the body straight, nor should you hang your body towards the front. Ensure that the body parts do not slump. Otherwise, you can develop lasting knee pain.
Wrap Up
This concludes our article. We request elliptical owners to avoid stressing their body too much. Losing weight or regaining your fitness takes time. If you over push your body, knee pain can develop. It is certainly unnerving and lasting in most cases. So, the best thing is to avoid it entirely by taking preventive steps.