Stairsteppers

Stairsteppers

Stairsteppers, also called stairclimbers or steppers, consist of two footplates that resemble oversized pedals. As you stand on these pedals, you need to keep your body centered and upright without leaning on the rails. Your feet should be flat on the footplates throughout the motion. On some machines, pushing one plate down automatically raises the other. On other machines, the pedals operate independently of one another. The motion resembles climbing an endless flight of stairs to nowhere, and it results in an excellent lower-body workout. You can adjust the resistance, and you derive aerobic benefit from the level you select and the speed you use to push the pedals. Bigger steps work the butt muscles more; smaller steps work the legs and calves more. In addition to time and calories, the display usually will tell you the equivalent of how many flights and often how many vertical feet you have climbed. A Crossrobics machine resembles a stairclimber, but instead of standing on the footpads,you lean against a back support in a position similar to that of a recumbent bike.StairMaster is a pioneering manufacturer of stairsteppers. The brand name has become virtually synonymous with this category of apparatus, even though many manufacturers now make this type of exercise equipment, and the StairMaster company now makes other types of apparatus.