What Is an Elliptical Machine? | The Low-Impact Cardio Option

An elliptical machine delivers a solid cardiovascular workout without the jarring impact of running or treadmill training. Your feet ride on large platforms that glide through an oval path, and most models add moving handlebars so your arms work too. That’s the simple version. What most people don’t realize is that official safety standards define exactly what qualifies as an elliptical—and the definition matters if you’re comparing machines or checking gym equipment labels.

How These Machines Are Officially Defined

International safety standards classify an elliptical trainer as stationary training equipment that produces a continuous closed-pattern or reciprocating motion. In plain terms, your feet trace the same rounded loop over and over, and you can use the machine from either a standing or seated position.

The standards body behind the definition, ISO, publishes specific safety requirements for these machines in ISO 20957-9:2016. That document covers cardiovascular equipment with a closed-pattern or reciprocating foot action and explicitly excludes steppers, which move your feet up and down rather than through a smooth oval.

Standards documents also refer to these machines as “cross-training machines,” and they permit upper-body handles linked to the motion. Your legs supply most of the power, but the moving handlebars let you pull and push with your arms for a full-body session.

What Makes an Elliptical Different From a Stepper or Treadmill

The foot path separates an elliptical from every other cardio machine. A treadmill forces you to run or walk on a moving belt, landing with each step. A stepper moves your feet up and down. An elliptical keeps both feet planted on platforms that glide through a continuous oval, so your joints never absorb a heavy landing.

That distinction is codified in the safety standards. ISO 20957-9 exists specifically for elliptical trainers, while steppers fall under different rules. If you see a machine labeled a “stepper,” it is not an elliptical, even if it looks similar at a glance.

Most home models include moveable handlebars that work your arms and upper back, plus adjustable resistance levels that let you increase the challenge as your fitness improves.

Who Benefits Most From Using One

The low-impact nature makes an elliptical a strong choice for anyone who wants cardio without stress on their knees, hips, or back. Runners recovering from joint pain often switch to one for their conditioning work, and older adults frequently prefer the smooth motion over treadmill impact.

Users who want an upper-body challenge can push and pull the handlebars aggressively to engage their arms, chest, and back. The standards note that these machines may include upper-body training devices, and most commercial models do. If you simply hold the stationary rails, you still get a solid leg workout, but adding the moving arms turns it into a full-body session.

Space is the one real drawback. Even compact models need a few square feet of floor and some ceiling clearance for the arc of the handles. Compact ellipticals for tight home spaces solve that problem with smaller footprints and folding options, so the machine can fit in a corner or closet between workouts.

What the Safety Standards Cover

The ISO and EN standards that govern ellipticals are about safety and testing, not workout features or performance claims. They set requirements for structural integrity, stability, and the durability of foot platforms and moving parts.

The current European version of the rule is BS EN ISO 20957-9:2016+A1:2019, which the BSI maintains as the active standard. When you see a machine sold with an elliptical label and the ISO 20957-9 reference, that means the manufacturer has built to those documented safety requirements.