5 Ways to Get a Crazy Good Stair-Climber Workout
When it comes to standard Fitness Equipment you'll find in just about every gym, a stair-climber is at the top of the list. It's usually somewhere between the ellipticals and the treadmills, but the Cardio Machine can be an amazing strength-training tool, too.
It's easy enough to use - one never-ending step in front of another - and taking the stairs to get your daily steps in is important for weight control and building a strong lower body, right? Yes. But there's an art to crafting an effective stair-climber workout.
1.Focus on building lower-body muscle strength.
Every step on the stair-climber engages your calves, glutes, quads, and hamstrings, so it's a good way to target and tone your lower body. The key, though, is making sure you keep your back upright and core engaged, so your lower half takes the force. Basically, don't hunch over while doing a stair-climber workout if you want the best results. That's because while the machine will burn calories and improve muscular endurance, it's still a bodyweight exercise. That means a stair-climber workout won't build the muscles in the same way that resistance training moves such as weighted squats, deadlifts, or lunges will.
2.Use the stair-climber machine as an effective weight-loss tool.
A stair-climber workout is a smart choice if torching calories is your goal because it utilizes the largest, most metabolically active muscles in your body (quads, hamstrings, glutes, core). Working larger muscles will burn more calories at rest, So when you work larger muscles, you are not only strengthening those muscles, but you are strengthening and quickening your metabolism.The heart-rate boosting cardio mixed with the lower-body strength training means that you'll burn more calories during and after your stair-climber workout than you would by doing moderate, steady-state cardio.
3.Do a stair-climber workout for recovery.
Using the stair-climber machine is a lower-impact exercise, so it's a good option if you have back issues and can't use the Treadmill, it was a useful tool to relieve low-back pain partially because it's so effective at activating the glute muscles, which takes pressure off your back. The injury-prevention exception: The stair-climber can be tough on your knees, so it's not the best option if you have pre-existing knee joint issues.
4.Climb to improve posture.
You'll increase that core strength with every step during a stair-climber workout, which not only keeps that solid posture intact but also helps to prevent or alleviate chronic back pain. A strong core makes it easier to perform daily tasks using functional movement.
5.Do a stair-climber workout if you're sick of the elliptical.
When it comes to cardio, you should feel fine simply choosing the machine you enjoy the most.Elliptical burnout is real, so try switching it up. Plus, the stair-climber improves functional movement because most people climb stairs every day - you probably don't exactly move your body like you would while on an elliptical. And moving steps are a good option if you've recently started referring to the treadmill as the dreadmill.
