Examining Elliptical vs. Treadmill Workouts

Fitness machines and fitness workout programs have come a long ways since the 1970s.

Even hospitals had a very limited amount and quality of rehab equipment at that time compared to what the average gym has now. One of the best fitness machines of that era was the treadmill. Today, one of the best fitness machines we have is the elliptical machine. Yet treadmills have continued to endure as one of the most popular of all fitness machines for gym, hospital, and home use. Let us make a brief examination of elliptical vs. treadmill workouts today.

A comparison of elliptical vs. treadmill workouts must begin with cardiovascular fitness, as that is the primary purpose of both machines. The treadmill does this very well, simulating a walk or a hike, depending on your speed and incline settings. The elliptical does this very well, depending on your resistance settings. The main difference in this area is that the elliptical does more to protect you from joint injury by only allowing smooth movements, while the treadmill has your knees and ankles pounding with each step. However, some people are more comfortable and feel more natural walking. But if you have a history of joint problems or are aging, the elliptical is clearly superior.

If you’re trying to burn calories to lose weight, the elliptical vs. treadmill workout is no contest. Because the elliptical machine works out more muscles at once, you can burn a lot more calories with the effort spread around the body instead of all being done by a few muscles.

Speaking of muscles, this is where the elliptical vs. treadmill comparison really isn’t much of a comparison. While the treadmill mainly works out your legs, the elliptical works out most of the muscles of your body, but particularly the legs and arms. You can get really good muscle tone. For added benefit, you can also workout the opposing muscles of the leg by pedaling backwards.

While many people still use treadmills because of a certain comfort level, you get a lot of benefits from elliptical machines that you can’t get from treadmills. The treadmill has enough qualities to figure as a part of most gyms for years to come, but for those who want a safe, full, one-stop workout, the elliptical wins the elliptical vs. treadmill comparisons. If you’re comparing to run marathons with an indoor workout, however, the treadmill can best simulate the running experience of any machine out there. Further, in the elliptical vs. treadmill comparison it should be noted that many people like to use both for different reasons or on different days of the week to get a workout variation.

 

One Response to “Examining Elliptical vs. Treadmill Workouts”

1. Raul Defranco says:

   February 4, 2012 at 3:41 pm

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