Cardio Exercises at the Gym

Cardiovascular exercises are designed to engage the muscles for a long period of time and help burn calories, supply oxygen to the muscles and strengthen the heart. There are many forms of cardiovascular exercise that don't require special equipment, including swimming, hiking, running, basketball and soccer. However, cardiovascular machines available in gyms allow you to workout in any type of weather and to pace and control your level of exercise.

  1. Treadmill

    • A treadmill is a cardiovascular exercise machine that offers individuals a chance to run or walk while staying in place. The machine uses a moving platform with an electric motor and conveyor belt and features a number of settings to make the workout more challenging. Treadmills have a dashboard that allows runners to calculate the elevation and speed of the machine. Some even include a cooling mechanism. Treadmills offer certain advantages as opposed to running or walking outside, including a smoother service and the ability to watch television or read a magazine.

    Exercise Bicycle

    • An exercise bicycle is a specialty exercise machine that resembles a bicycle, but without the wheels for transportation. Safety is a key advantage of using an exercise bicycle, as riders can exercise without having to worry about weather, vehicles and pedestrians. You can also simulate different terrains for a more effective workout. In addition to providing cardiovascular exercise, an exercise bicycle is commonly used in physical therapy, because of its low-impact movement and reduction of stress on the joints as opposed to other exercises. Riders are also able to keep track of how many miles they have peddled and change the settings to make the ride more resistant.

    Elliptical Trainer

    • The elliptical trainer is an upper and lower body cardiovascular machine that simulates walking or running. This is a non-impact workout that uses handle-levers attached to pedals to drive power. The advantage of using the elliptical trainer as opposed to other cardiovascular equipment is that it burns more calories by using more muscle groups, and, also, moving arms at chest level does more to get the heart pumping. Individuals using the elliptical are able to exercise in a smooth, controlled motion that aligns their hips, knees and ankles to prevent excessive pressure on the joints.