Stair & Stepper Machines for Cardiorespiratory Training

There is something unique about having to elevate your body against gravity as must occur when using a stair stepper, climbing machine. This inherently requires more energy than walking which is more of a horizontal movement. Here are some of the more notable benefits that are derived from engaging in stair stepping exercise.

1.     Effectively engages the core muscles. Because every time you flex your hip to bring up your leg to place it on the next stair, the muscles pull against the pelvis in a more forceful way. Consequently, core abdominal muscles must more intensely engage working as stabilizer muscles to help keep the pelvis from rotating anteriorly and putting “slack” in the muscles.

2.     Provides a focused work of the gluteus maximus. Once you place your foot on the upward stair the motion from that point downward involves significant range of motion for hip extension. The prime mover muscle for hip extension is the gluteus maximus, so it is worked very effectively when stepping helping to shape and tone the gluteal muscle group.

3.     Provides profound cardiorespiratory benefits. The vigorousness of climbing upward overcoming gravity provides a significant stimulatory effect for the heart, lungs, involved muscles while providing the well-known disease risk reduction and health promoting benefits.

4.     Builds a strong lower body. Climbing stairs not only works the gluteal muscles, but also works the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocsoleus complex muscle group for strength and enhanced balance.

5.     Builds bone. While stair stepping may not provide the equal of bone-building stimulus as jogging, it still provides a substantial stimulus as a weight-bearing exercise.

6.     Low Impact. Unlike jogging, stair stepping/climbing is easier on the lower body joints while taking them through a good range of motion. 

ProHealthcareProducts.com offers stair climber machines from the classic revolving stairs configuration, a recumbent stepper, and the step-rail design