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XE Series Elliptical
15
Adjustable foot pedals, and orthopedically correct foot pads
XE350 and XE550 only
Through research performed with a leading sports scientist and physical rehabilitation
expert, Spirit engineering has developed a breakthrough in pedal design. No other elliptical,
at any price, offers these unique features. The history of elliptical use over the past few
years tells us that many users suffer from numb toes while working out on elliptical trainers.
Many other users complain of ankle, Achilles tendon, knee and/or hip pain. While
researching a solution to these common problems Spirit engineers consulted Richard
DeKok, P.T., M.T.C., of St. Bernards Industrial Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro
Arkansas.
Together we identified the inherent problem in elliptical designs and developed solutions to
solve the problems. What we found is that when you use an elliptical you tend to push
outward during the power stroke and not just straight back. This causes stress on the outer
part of the foot and throws off the natural alignment of the joints. The second problem we
found is that many people tend to stay up on the ball of their foot during the elliptical motion.
Our solutions were simple but effective:
• The first solution was to add a 2 degree inward angle to the foot pads. This might
sound simple but what it does is puts the users joints back into a neutral alignment.
This eases the over stressing of the ankles, knees and hips.
• The second solution was to make the foot pedal adjustable to the user’s style of
pedaling the elliptical. We achieved this by adding an adjustment that allows the
angle of the foot pad to be changed. There are three adjustments. The lowest one
will set the footpads at zero (0) degrees, or flat, at the bottom of the elliptical stroke.
The second position sets the footpad to five (5) degrees and the top position sets
the foot pads to ten (10) degrees.
Because every body is different, and there are as many styles to pedal an elliptical
as there are people, we found there is no one angle that fit every user. Some users
would be up on the balls of their feet, resulting in numb toes, so we decided to let
the user adjust the back of the foot pad upward to support the heel, taking the
pressure off of the nerves in the balls of the feet and the Achilles tendon. The result
was no more numb toes. Some users are uncomfortable at this angle so for them
we designed in three different adjustable angles so they could find one that feels
best for them.
A great side benefit of the adjustable foot pad angle is that you end up working different
muscle groups. At the highest angle you will work the quadriceps more. At the lowest angle
you work the hamstrings and glutes harder. Not a bad perk!
Transportation
The
elliptical
is equipped with two transport wheels which are engaged when rear of
XE Series Elliptical is lifted.
Operation of Your Elliptical
Features