Hello Brittani29!
My machine is similar to cross-country skiing. No snow of course!lol

. There are woodtype ski-slats you place your feet in and there are pulleys for your arms. So you glide one leg, pull the hand pulley..and keep on going...it kinda makes you feel like you will go off the end..it must just be a balance thing...it is getting better for me. There are handle grips to ski with too...It seems like nothing but after 3 mins you start to get winded...so it is working! lol

There isn't any stress to joints, unless you fall off the skis! lol
janet