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Stepper

The stepper is an exerciser used in cardio fitness. The advantages deriving from the use of the stepper are very many: the organs more closely linked to the cardiovascular system are strengthened, such as the heart, first of all, and the lungs; furthermore, given the prolonged effort for at least 20 minutes, the loss of calories and consequently of weight is helped. The stepper can therefore be considered one of the most effective weight loss methods ever, made truly infallible when combined with proper daily nutrition.

If you have arterial hypertension problems, the use of the stepper is an excellent strategy to control and lower blood pressure both during the specific activity, but also after, when we have finished training. In general, the use of the stepper improves muscle capillarization, ie the ability of the capillaries to bring oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, while removing the lactic acid and toxic catabolites; together with circulation, it also improves aerobic capacity, because it increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle and the general oxygenation capacity of our body.

Stepper is known for its simplicity of use, but it is necessary to analyze specifically the right position to maintain during its use. What we can define as a standard position involves a completely vertical posture with a straight back, a pelvis tilted forward and abdominal contracts. Other positions localize the physical effort on certain parts of the body by stressing specific muscles: so, for example, if instead of the heels we put the tips over the pedals, we train the calves, while adopting a slightly tilted back position we stimulate the hamstrings.

The imagination and creativity could make you creators of new uses of the stepper and of new muscles stimulated by its action; it is therefore necessary to experiment. Before doing so, however, the recommendation is to start using the stepper only if you have the knee joints in perfect condition. In fact, although it does not create traumas or impacts such as could happen in the treadmill, the action of imitating the ascent of the stairs goes on to constantly urge the knees, thus straining them in a rather critical way.

The stepper is composed of two pedals that move, alternately, up and down, and in some steppers also perform lateral movements; this differentiates it and makes it more comfortable than the classic step, which instead is a platform roughly around 60-90cm used mainly in aerobic gymnastics.

In most modern steppers we always find an on-board computer, more or less complex depending on the quality of the tool, which gives us all the useful information on the training we are practicing. The market generally offers three types of steppers that try to respond to different usage needs, thus including both amateur and competitive use:

Ministepper : these are the simplest models, very compact in size, whose movements are stopped by the action of hydraulic pistons; ministeppers are almost always equipped with on-board computers to monitor training.

Ministepper obliques : they are the evolution of traditional ministepper because they allow a more complete movement, not only from top to bottom alternately, but also laterally thus producing an oblique trajectory. The action of the pedals of the oblique ministepper is always braked by the action of hydraulic pistons. The market has focused a lot on this type of stepper, because in addition to having a price similar to the traditional ministepper, they present themselves with this improvement in general operation.

Stepper : these are the most sophisticated models. The main difference is first of all in the presence of a stable frame that guarantees greater solidity of the instrument, often built in indestructible materials such as steel. Furthermore, the hydraulic pistons are increased to allow a higher excursion; the resistance then (in the more expensive models) is often contrasted also by a magnetic flywheel that makes the movement more fluid, saving excessive stresses on the joints. The on-board computer, given the greater dimensions of these steppers, becomes more complex, making the training control precise in every detail (from the choice of pre-set programs, to the control of the heartbeat etc ...).