By Mike Selvon
Stair climbers have long been a mainstay piece of equipment in many home fitness centers. They are considered to be the third most popular choice in home exercise equipment that is available today.
Stair steppers are simple to use since they simulate the beneficial action of climbing stairs. Of course, with real stairs you are done when you reach the top, but with this fitness equipment you can continue climbing as long as your legs can tolerate.
One of the reasons that stair climbers are so popular is because they are very effective at strengthening and building the muscles in your legs, thighs and buttocks. These large muscles are responsible for a great deal of overall body strength and are also responsible for a large percentage of the calories that you burn each day. Once you build-up this group of large muscles, the effects on your metabolism will be significant, because a faster metabolic rate equals more calories burned.
There are many people who have the mistaken idea that the only time their body benefits from an exercise is during the actual exercise. But, the experts say this is not so, and once you increase your muscle mass you will also increase the amount of fat being burned. This is one of the reasons stair climbers are popular: they are one of the best fitness machines for helping you build the large muscles of your lower body.
As wonderful as they are, it is important to use them correctly, or you can end up wasting your time and not getting the benefits you desire. With proper exercise on a stair climber, meaning correct posture and not leaning your body weight on the rails of the machine, you can reap the maximum amount of gain. Not only will a stair climber help to build and tone your lower body, but the result of using it will improve your level of energy and sense of balance, as well.
There are a number of different kinds of stair climbers on the market from which to choose. Some of the available styles include: cylinder-driven climbers, wind-driven climbers and computer controlled climber models which can include some very sophisticated programming to challenge those who have been using stair climbing equipment for some time.
Stair climbers also come in a wide range of prices too. The most expensive stair steppers on the market include small onboard computers that will calculate the number of calories you burn during a workout session. They can also track your heart rate and keep a record of the total number of feet or stories that you climbed during your routine. Additionally, some models come with workout handles which allow you to add exercises for the upper body.
Many experts suggest that stair climbers are more suitable for some people than exercise bikes, treadmills or other home fitness equipment. However, if you have been sedentary, a stair climber may not be the best piece of home gym exercise equipment to start out with, and you should consult your physician first. It should be noted that stair steppers are not recommended to be used by people who have cardiovascular or orthopedic disorders.
Source: physicalfitnessarticles.net
