Categories: Fitness & Exercise

The Schwinn 418 Elliptical: Preventing Stress Injuries

For most, the name “Schwinn” is synonymous bicycles, but did you know that Schwinn produces the 418 Elliptical cross trainer?

Low Impact, High Intensity

At first glance, the Schwinn 418 Elliptical looks somewhat like a ski machine, and more like a stair machine. Take a closer look at the 418 in action, and you see that it has unique program settings which simulate walking, skiing, climbing, and cycling, with an elliptical motion that gives the user a low impact workout without sacrificing intensity. Elliptical cross trainers are becoming increasingly popular because they offer a cardiovascular workout that aids in building strength and stamina, minus the joint stress caused by treadmills, running, and high-impact aerobics.

Stress Injuries

Since 1895, Schwinn has manufactured bicycles, making itself one of the most recognized names in the industry. Many owners of Schwinn products are avid cyclists with common concerns about “over-use” joint injuries and repetitive stress injuries (RSI), like tendinitis, and bursitis, which cause irritation and intense pain throughout the knees, legs, and hips. When it comes to repetitive stress injuries, many immediately think of the wrists, arms, and hands, but those involved in great physical activities risk similar injury to other muscle groups.

The Schwinn 418 Elliptical addresses these concerns, appealing to both hardcore athletes, and general exercise enthusiasts — and to anyone concerned about the long-term effects of high-impact exercise on the body. Prevention is essential to fitness and health. However, those with existing joint injuries should consult a doctor before starting a fitness program, or using exercise equipment.

Schwinn 418 Elliptical Features

Elliptical machines by NordicTrak, SportsArt, and Precor, for example, feature bulky flywheels located at the rear. The Schwinn 418’s flywheel is located in the front and out of the way, which saves space and adds to the user’s ease and comfort. Although the 418 Elliptical is not collapsible for easy storage, it is noticeably narrow and compact, taking up less space in the home than other elliptical machines.

The Schwinn 418 Elliptical’s features are standard to most elliptical cross trainers, many of them being more expensive than the 418. A calorie counter, RPM count, speed, time, distance, and other features are all displayed on a simple, compact LCD screen. With challenging workout programs like plateau, mountain, rolling, and manual mode, users can vary their workouts fit needs.

The 418 has a unique feature, the articulating foot plate. The foot plate stays parallel to the bottom of the user’s foot, supporting the heel, and providing added contact, which increases stability, efficiency, and comfort. Schwinn also boasts a “lengthened stride” of stride of 18″, 46 cm, however, this may not suit the tallest users. In comparison, the Octane Fitness Company’s Pro350XL elliptical club model accommodates users with strides up to 24 inches, a full 6 inches more than the Schwinn 418.

The 418 is moderately priced, and costs 3 times less than some of the more expensive elliptical machines on the market. Consumer Reports named the 418 Schwinn Elliptical as a “Best Buy”. Schwinn also produces the 428 Elliptical, which costs a couple hundred dollars more than the 418, and features a wireless heart rate monitor, and reverse action, which targets different muscle groups.