A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 3 (S-Z)

Self-generating power

An elliptical trainer with self-generating power utilizes the energy of your workout as you exercise to keep the machine’s batteries charged up so you don’t need to continue to replace batteries or plug in the machine.

Shroud

The casing typically surrounding the elliptical trainer’s drive mechanism / flywheel is called the shroud.

Sound system

Some of the mid to high-end elliptical trainers feature a sound system on their consoles, incorporating audio speakers and either MP3 connectivity or Bluetooth connectivity so you can listen to your favorite music as you exercise.

Stabilizers

Elliptical trainers are constructed with stabilizers, metal tubing with feet that extend out from the front and back base of the machine to the left and right, with the purpose of providing added stability and reducing side-to-side motion.  Some of the higher-end machines have the addition of a central stabilizer for extra stability.

Stride length

Different elliptical trainers can have different stride lengths.  The cheaper machines tend to have a shorter stride length (around 14” – 16”) than the higher-end machines, making them more suited to smaller people.  The ideal stride length to have an elliptical trainer for most people would be around 18” but taller people may need a machine with a 20” or more.  Some of the higher-end elliptical machines offer an adjustable stride length so that each individual can get the best fit.

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A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 2 (G-R)

Handlebar controls

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers will have handlebar controls with which you can change resistance levels at the press of a button instead of having to go into the console.

Heart monitor

The heart-monitor measures your heart-rate as you exercise to help you stay within your target heart-rate zone.  Different elliptical trainers may offer different methods of heart-rate monitoring – either pulse grip sensors located on the handlebars or via a wireless chest strap.

High-inertia flywheel

A flywheel with a high rotational inertia effectively opposes speed fluctuations to ensure smooth consistent momentum.

IFit

IFit is a subscription based service which offers a wide range of additional workouts by qualified fitness trainers, training routes from around the world with Google Maps, online fitness tracking and much more.  Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers are IFit compatible, either directly on their own console’s screen or via an app on your own mobile tablet/phone.  You won’t find this compatibility with the cheaper elliptical machines.

Incline

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers have an incline feature that allows you to adjust the level of the incline to simulate uphill climbs.

LCD

Liquid crystal display.

Levellers

Levellers are adjustable “feet” on the bottom of the elliptical trainer that enable you to level the machine on uneven floor surfaces.

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A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 1 (A-F)

AC adaptor

The AC adaptor enables you to connect the elliptical trainer to an electric power outlet.  Not all elliptical machines offer this option – some are manually operated and use batteries to operate the console.

Adjustable footplates

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers have adjustable footplates which allows you to adjust the angle of the footplate for preferred user comfort.

Adjustable stride length

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers have an adjustable stride length as opposed to most machines’ fixed stride length, allowing individual users to adjust the length of the machine’s stride for a custom fit.

Articulating footplates

Articulating footplates are pivoting foot pedals that adapt to the motion / angle of the elliptical stride, thus replicating a natural fluid striding motion.  The ergonomic design of articulating footplates helps to keep your feet, knees and hips in proper alignment as you exercise, thus helping to reduce the stress and strain on your feet, arches, ankles and other joints.

Bluetooth connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity allows you to wirelessly connect either a telemetric heart-rate monitor or connect to your own mobile device (tablet or phone) for online fitness tracking apps.

Compact design

An elliptical trainer with a compact design typically has a smaller footprint so will take up less space in your home.  But you need to bear in mind that a machine with a smaller footprint will typically have a shorter stride length which may not be suitable for taller people.

Console

The console is the control panel situated on the front of the elliptical trainer from which you can choose workout programs, change resistance levels and view workout data.

Custom workouts

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers offer custom workouts on their consoles, i.e. it allows you to design your own workout programs.

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