The arc trainer is a piece of exercise equipment that is new to the scene and has many people asking how it is any different than an elliptical. The basic answer to this question is right there in the names of both machines. Ellipticals move your feet around in an ellipses, which is very similar in shape to an oval. An arc trainer moves your feet back and forth in a downward arc.
Ellipticals and arc trainers offer many of the same benefits as far as cardiovascular fitness and low impact exercise. Both machines also have moving handlebars on some models that allow you to get in an upper body workout at the same time. The extra features on an elliptical such as book holders, cooling fans and heart rate monitors are all available for arc trainers as well.
If you are trying to decide between using an arc trainer or an elliptical, the main differences between the two machines come down to knee movement and power. Cybex, the company that designed the arc trainer, built it so that you are never pushing your foot forward. Instead, one you drive one foot down, it pushes the other one forward. They did this in order to protect and stabilize users’ knees.
If you are using an elliptical correctly, it should not cause any knee damage or pain. If you have pre-existing conditions, however, such as degenerative arthritis or previous injuries, the elliptical might aggravate your joints. If this proves to be the case, an arc trainer might be a better fit for you. A stationary bike would work under these conditions as well.
Some people report that working out at a steady pace on an arc trainer feels easier than on an elliptical. This is because they are not using the arc trainer to its full potential. Arc trainers are designed to work at a constant power. On an elliptical, people often start fast, slow down toward the middle of their workout, and then pick up the pace again for the last few minutes. If you keep your pace constant throughout the workout, then it will feel punishing.
An arc trainer is built to help athletes maintain the same level of exertion throughout their workout. If you use the “constant power” setting on your arc trainer, you will see what this means. If you slow down during your workout, the arc trainer will automatically increase the resistance level. If you keep a fast pace throughout your workout, you will have low resistance. If you start to slow down, however, it will quickly get more difficult.
If you want to purchase a piece of equipment for home use, the elliptical is probably still a better choice. High end ellipticals start at around $1,200. Arc trainers are still built only by Cybex. The newness of the equipment and the lack of competition puts the price tag at $3,00 and up. This price will likely have to fall quite a bit before arc trainers become commonplace in home gyms.