Elliptical Trainer
The gentlest full-body option — useful for building volume without joint cost.
Choose an effort level
Moderate
Working steadily, able to talk.
Hard
High resistance, breathing hard.
Intervals
Alternating hard pushes with easy recoveries.
MET values reference the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities. They are population averages, not personal measurements.
Technique cues
- Push and pull the handles so the upper body contributes.
- Keep the whole foot down instead of rising onto the toes.
- Add resistance before adding speed.
- Stay upright rather than hanging off the console.
Common mistakes
- Coasting on momentum with no resistance.
- Ignoring the handles entirely and halving the work.
- Locking the knees at the end of each stride.
A starter session
25 minutes moderate, adding resistance every 5 minutes.
Who it may suit
Very low impact. The usual recommendation when running is off the table for joint reasons.