Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to pain management and medical devices.
LegXercise is a health device used to improve mobility, support circulation and relieve pain. The device moves the legs from a seated position to simulate walking, and its manufacturer claims that “Relief is Just a Click Away.”
But is LegXercise actually proven to cause pain relief? Does it have the same health effects as walking? Is the Ellipse model better? And can LegXercise cause weight loss?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze how LegXercise is proposed to work, and whether or not it has any research backing.
We’ll share our thoughts on the potential health benefits of LegXercise compared to walking, discuss the potential for weight loss, and explain why we think the Ellipse model is inferior to the original model.
Key takeaways:
- Doesn't appear clinically tested
- Free alternatives (we have a video featuring some) may be equally effective
- We do not currently recommend LegXercise
Is LegXercise Proven to Work?
The LegXercise machine does not appear to have been studied in any clinical trials.
None are referenced on the brand’s website at the time of publishing this article, and we can’t find any on PubMed, which is one of the largest free clinical trial databases.
This means that LegXercise is not clinically proven to have any specific health effects.
However, similar devices have been studied in clinical trials.
A clinical trial published in the Journal of Rural Medicine tested the effects of a similar device called the Leg Exercise Apparatus (LEX) on blood flow.
Blood flow increased by 76% when using the leg exercise device compared to at rest, which was greater than the standard ankle-movement-related exercises that are typically recommended.
A 2016 clinical trial found that this same device increased muscle activity.
Based on the available research, we consider LegXercise potentially likely to be effective for improving blood flow and supporting circulation.
However, it may be more sensible for consumers to consider purchasing the device which was clinically tested called the LEX.
We cannot find any medical evidence that LegXercise is likely to relieve pain, because its manufacturer hasn’t proven such and we can’t find proof that similar devices relieve pain in clinical trials.
Will LegXercise Cause Weight Loss?
As stated in the first section of this article, LegXercise doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials so we can’t say definitively whether or not it causes weight loss.
However, we can make an educated guess based on the device type.
Any device that increases metabolic rate and calories burned is likely to contribute somewhat to weight loss, because weight loss is a simple thermodynamic process that requires calories expended to exceed calories ingested.
As we documented in our review of another seated leg exercise machine called Cubii, indoor cycling is clinically shown to cause significant weight loss, and since LegXercise is a less intense version of that exercise, we believe it may be effective for moderate weight loss.
We hope that in the future, the brand funds a clinical trial testing whether their device causes weight loss.
Is the Ellipse Model Better?
LegXercise's most popular model is not called the "LegXercise" but the "Ellipse."
It's a motorized elliptical device the brand claims can strengthen and tone your legs, passively burn calories, stimulate leg circulation and more:
image source: legxercise.com
We cannot find clinical support for any of these claims.
LegXercise Ellipse doesn't appear to have been tested in any clinical trials, and we can't find existing clinical studies showing that motorized elliptical devices provide the benefits this brand claims.
Overall, we consider this product unlikely to be effective for any of the stated claims, and we do not currently recommend it.
This model is more expensive than the original model, so we consider it to be a worse option.
Free Seated Leg Exercises
For consumers uninterested in LegXercise or who may not be able to afford the device, The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has a YouTube video that’s only two minutes long with some seated leg exercises that may promote circulation:
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Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
LegXercise Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- Drug-free
- May improve circulation
- May improve muscular function
- Convenient
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Doesn’t appear clinically tested
- Ellipse may be worse than original model
- Somewhat expensive
- Unproven pain relief claims
