Cardiovascular Equipment & Home Exercise Techniques

Treadmills are cardiovascular machines for walking and running.inifinity health and condition concept with running woman image by .shock from Fotolia.com

Cardiovascular exercise, sometimes called "cardio," improves overall health by building stamina, lowering fat content, improving the heart and giving the muscles a low-impact exercise. There are home exercise equipment options and exercise techniques for cardio workouts that improve the health without ever leaving the comfort of home.

Treadmill

Treadmills allow walking and running in a stationary location. They have a motor that moves the belt at variable speeds. Treadmills allow for walking, running and jogging in the home. Some display calories burned and distance traveled based on the speed of the machine and they usually have options for higher impact by raising the machine on an incline. Prices for home treadmills range from $300 to $1,500.

A stationary cycle is a bicycle machine that uses the pedaling motion of a bike while remaining in the same location. It is another cardio exercise machine for home use that provides low-impact exercise without jarring the joints of the knees. Basic techniques use the same pedaling motion as used on a bike. The machine allows adjustments for higher impact, such as cycling uphill or at higher speeds. Some display information such as calories burned and the distance cycled, based on the speed of cycling. Prices range between around $100 and $1,200 in 2010.

A stair-climbing machine builds leg muscles while burning fat and getting the heart rate going. The basic technique of this machine is the same as climbing stairs one at a time in the home: Life one foot up, set it on the step above, place it down and then step with the next foot. Prices for a stair-climbing machine generally range between $200 and $700.

An elliptical looks like a bicycle machine, in that it pedals in a circular motions, but is like a treadmill in that it is an upright exercise. Hold onto the poles and use the legs to press the pedals. It is a low-impact exercise that burns fat in the body without putting extra stress on the knees as running or jogging do. The movement of the hands with the handles helps to improve the full body rather than focusing solely on the legs. Prices in 2010 range from around $100 to $1000.