White Papers
- The LateralX elliptical trainer introduces a unique lateral elliptical motion that moves a user’s stride through three planes of motion. The LateralX uses electronic motors to allow users to change the width of their lateral motion during their workout. Users can perceive a significant change in their workload and muscles engaged when at the narrowest and widest lateral width settings. This analysis explores the differences in muscle recruitment and joint loading at these two different lateral width settings and comments on the loads and joint angles using the LateralX versus typical elliptical cross-trainers as well as the natural motions of walking, jogging and running. This paper presents the results of this scientific analysis as well as outlining a practical application in a rehab facility.
- As elliptical training has become more popular over the years as a low-impact exercise tool, there has been an increased focus on varied ranges of motion to recruit a larger number of muscles. The LateralX emerges as unique, with pedals that follow a more vertical ellipse and variable lateral width settings. This lateral width variation involves additional utilization of the hip abductor and adductor muscles, causing greater oxygen uptake (VO2)
and energy expenditure than exercise on a conventional elliptical machine.
- Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is an all new type of sport that has become a favorite worldwide, attracting interest from elite athletes to regular workout enthusiasts. Octane Fitness has designed a creative new workout on its elliptical cross-trainers that mimics real-life MMA bouts and gives participants an effective alternative to training in the ring.
- The 30:30 program is an innovative new workout program available exclusively on Octane Fitness elliptical cross-trainers. The 30:30 program motivates and challenges exercisers of all abilities - from world class athletes to weekend warriors - and with consistent use the workout shows measurable improvement with your heart rate recovery score which is an indicator of your fitness level.
- In today’s 24/7/365 eternally plugged-in world, people feel busier and more stressed than ever, and lack of time is most commonly cited as a barrier to exercise. Circuit training provides an effective option that breaks this barrier and yields significant advantages.
- As the older adult population continues growing, and as greater emphasis is placed on the importance of exercise, physical therapists are treating more individuals for health conditions or rehabilitation after injuries or surgery, helping restore functionality and performance.
Among the newest and most versatile tools is the xRide® seated elliptical from Octane Fitness. An entirely new exercise category,
the xRide delivers cardiovascular and resistance training workouts to all levels of exercisers up to elite athletes. Physical and
occupational therapists have quickly recognized the value and effectiveness of the xRide in many therapeutic applications.
- Research published in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research shows that low-intensity resistance training (RT) can produce the same muscle strength, size and tone gains as traditional high-intensity RT (Tanimoto et al., 2008). For the purposes of this paper, we consider the benefits of low-intensity RT and how Octane Fitness’ “cross circuit training” program meets the criteria of low-intensity RT. However, it is essential to remember that with the “cross circuit training” program, both high and low RT conditions are possible.
- As people age, lung capacity decreases and the heart beats slower and distributes less blood with each
pump (reduced stroke volume). These age-related physiological changes result in decreased maximal
oxygen consumption, which results in less oxygen reaching the muscles. Because oxygen is the life
fuel for muscles, without it, muscles simply cannot work. The decrease in oxygen consumption is one
of the main reasons that as people age, they slow down, grow weak and lose stamina. Without speed,
strength and endurance, people struggle with the basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) that allow them
to maintain health to both enjoy a better quality of life and to remain independent.
- With more fitness tools available than ever before, today it is easy to cross train, or incorporate variety in workouts such as jogging on Mondays and Wednesdays and lifting weights and swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or it can be spending 15 minutes each on a stationary cycle, elliptical cross trainer and treadmill for a 45-minute session.
- During exercise, the heart beat, or pulse rate, is a valuable, objective gauge of intensity level--the more vigorous the workout, the faster the heart must pump to deliver oxygen-rich blood to hard-working muscles. Research shows that exercising in target heart rate zones is the best way to improve cardiovascular health while preventing under-training which minimizes results, as well as overtraining and risking injury or burnout. Essentially, it amounts to smarter, more effective workouts.
- When it comes to elliptical cross trainers, the newest and fastest growing category of fitness equipment, all definitely are NOT created equal. Anyone can step onto several different machines and quickly realize that each has its own very distinct motion and feel-unlike other fitness equipment such as treadmills and stationary bikes.
- Research continually indicates that exercise provides a wealth of benefits to women during and after pregnancy and to their babies as well. For instance, pregnant women who exercise typically gain less weight than those who do not work out—approximately eight pounds less, according to one study. Exercise during pregnancy also reduces risk of the dangerous condition of pre-eclamsia by 35%. And exercise can make labor and delivery shorter and better tolerated; when compared to sedentary women, exercising expectant moms have 30% more uncomplicated, spontaneous and shorter deliveries, 35% fewer need pain relief, 75% less require operative intervention and 75% fewer suffer from maternal exhaustion.
- Elliptical cross trainers have exploded in popularity over the past decade, primarily because their low-impact, effective and efficient workouts can challenge everyone from beginners to athletes. Plus, some ellipticals with moving handlebars engage the major muscle groups of the upper body and deliver total-body workouts that maximize caloric expenditure.
- The incredible popularity of elliptical cross trainers has led to the development of a number of varieties and models, each with a distinctive design and remarkably different motions that foster varying overall “feels,” which collectively impact exerciser comfort and the effectiveness and safety of exercise. Intuitively, if a machine doesn’t feel good, individuals eventually won’t use it and therefore will forfeit the benefits of regular exercise and the valuable results they were seeking.
