Holding handles while using treadmill or other cardio machines...
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This was funny! :laugh:
I usually use high incline on the treadmill and I only hold the handles to check the sensors and make sure they coincide with what my fitness watch is saying.
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If the handles are stationary you won't get the same benefit as if you are moving your arms. But if the handles are moving or even better if you have to pull/push them, you could get more benefit from holding them.
But holding handles or not you are still doing more than sitting on the couch. Do what you need to do to be safe.1 -
I use the ARC Trainer with movable handles and I hold to them all the time, specially when I am accelerating. Dumb or not, I don't care. I don't use the treadmill anymore because my knees don't like it, and I never used the stairmaster for the same reason.0
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Treadmill: no. Especially incline and leaning back. You'll be burning significantly less than not holding on/leaning back.
Bike, elliptical: Ok.2 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Stairmaster handles should not be touched unless you climb double steps or taking a brief 3 to 5 second touch to catch a break.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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There are actually 2 types of ellipticals -- one w/moving arms and one w/o. You can grip the stationary handles on the one w/the moving arms if you like but you arguably get a better workout if you move your arms and legs together. Not sure how much "better" that work out would be, since all of the work is still down w/the legs; the arms just move in place and don't contribute to the work done.
I think that depends on how you do it. When I was using the elliptical regularly (I switched to running 6 months ago), I would push and pull on the moving handles with my arms, especially when I used higher resistance settings. I upped the resistance settings every few weeks and my arms and shoulders were just as sore as my legs were the next day.
An elliptical can give you a total body workout by using the handles if you do it right. No reason not to hold the handles unless you are also working on balance, or don't want/need to work your arms.2
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