elliptical trainer - effective?

[flying scotsman]

The rise of elliptical trainers in gyms over the past few years has been immense. But I wondered just how effective they are and whether they could be a cause of injury.

There seems to me a lot of momentum generated on these devices, lessening the amount of work you have to do to get the foot pedals and arms moving.
Also, and perhaps more importantly, as the arms and legs are thrust back and forth through the same plane of motion, isn't there a risk of overuse injury - the same as Paul Chek has suggested happens if you continue to use the Smith machine for chest presses?

Does anyone share with me these concerns - or am I way off track here? [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'd appreciate any comment.

[zlightning]

I don't think you would get injured doing that, look at stationary bikes.

[gobbla]

IMO the question of "is X effective?" is a really peculiar question. To which one almost certainly has to ask..."in what regard"?

The momentum generated is negated somewhat by the resistance from the machine. The same way as anything in which you move it's far easier to keep moving than it is to stop and start again.

Risk of injury on the machine itself I wouldn't *think* would be incredibly great. But on the same hand I wouldn't do that as a single point of training and jump into a sport (short of the eleptical olympics) or something at full blast...because you probibly would be begging for an injury.