When it comes to standard fitness equipment you’ll find in just about every gym, a stair-climber is at the top of the list. It’s usually somewhere between the ellipticals and the treadmills, but the cardio machine can be an amazing strength-training tool, too.
But if you walk up the stairs to your office with good posture, it's safe to assume you have the adequate core strength to use the machine effectively and stay upright with a light grip on the handles. You'll increase that core strength with every step during a stair-climber workout, which not only keeps that solid posture intact but also helps to prevent or alleviate chronic back pain. Bonus: A strong core makes it easier to perform daily tasks using functional movement, says Niren.
5. Do a stair-climber workout if you're sick of the elliptical.
When it comes to cardio, you should feel fine simply choosing the machine you enjoy the most, says Wickham, but there’s something to be said about variety. Elliptical burnout is real, says Perez, so try switching it up. Plus, the stair-climber improves functional movement because most people climb stairs every day — you probably don’t exactly move your body like you would while on an elliptical. And moving steps are a good option if you’ve recently started referring to the treadmill as the dreadmill, says Niren. (Try out this fun 45-minute treadmill workout that’ll build your endurance.) You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the muscle gains and cardio burn from this OG fitness machine. Need a place to start? Try these two stair-climber workouts from Chris Powell of ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss.
Staircase Workout (on a regular set of immobile stairs)
Complete a dynamic warm-up (1 minute each of high knees, butt kicks, and side shuffles on flat ground), then complete 1 round of the following for a total of 30 minutes.
Stair-Climber Circuit Workout
Complete 3-minute warm-up (start at an easy pace, then increase by 1 level each minute) then complete 1 round of the following for a total of 30 minutes.
