Although the elliptical trainer gets rave reviews from athletic individuals for its low-impact workout, it hasn’t taken off yet in physical therapy and rehab settings.  Yet, many people with disabilities or who are recovering from an injury have stated in online forums that an elliptical worked better for them than a treadmill.  Why the discrepancy?  Much depends on the unit’s design.  Some ellipticals require the user to climb up into the footbeds, a daunting task for the disabled.  And at higher speeds, the machines take some coordination to use.  But these units have so many benefits that they shouldn’t be ruled out in rehab applications, if care is taken to select a design that fits a wide range of users.