People are always looking for the best piece of exercise equipment. However, the "best" piece of equipment is very individual. The end result you are striving for is key in selecting the perfect apparatus for your fitness routine.
Cardiovascular Equipment
There are many different types of cardiovascular equipment. There are bicycles, treadmills, rowers, elliptical and stair climbers. The differences are obvious when comparing bikes, treadmills and rowers. However, some believe that the elliptical trainer and stair climbers/steppers are interchangeable. In fact, they are very different.
Differences
Perhaps the biggest difference between a stair stepper and an elliptical are the areas of the body that are targeted. The stepper offers lower-body strength training in addition to cardiovascular benefits. The motion of the stair-climber is more linear, and it does have somewhat higher impact on the joints, compared to the elliptical. The stepper is a great lower-body toning machine; if the buttocks and legs are the areas you are wishing to target, the stepper may be for you.
The elliptical trainer motion is circular, with very low impact. Some models of elliptical trainers also have an upper-body resistance component, making it a total body workout. You can add resistance, which can target the leg muscles, buttocks, chest, biceps and triceps. The low impact on the joints, makes the elliptical an excellent choice for those with arthritis who can tolerate weight-bearing exercise, but not the impact of walking and jogging. The elliptical also can offer some variety in that you can also pedal backwards once you become proficient, which targets muscle groups a little differently.
Similarities
Both allow you to vary the speed and resistance of the exercise, and both offer a great cardiovascular workout. Most models have the heart rate monitors and control panels that show your speed and distance. And both have models that house a variety of pre-programmed workouts in addition to the manual settings.
Calorie Burn
Because the elliptical works more muscles than the stepper, it can burn more calories than the stepper. But the thing to remember is that regardless of the piece of equipment you are using, to up your calorie burn you should not lean on the hand rails. Most models of cardiovascular equipment do have a reading on the console for calories burned; however, they are not exact.
Safety
An elliptical is a bit harder to get accustomed to compared to the stepper. The stepper is a more natural motion, because many people walk up and down stairs daily. The elliptical motion is similar to cross country skiing. Try both pieces of equipment and find out which one is more comfortable. Check the pedals and make sure your foot can comfortably stay on the pedals. Maintain good posture on both pieces of equipment. And as always, you should check with your physician before embarking on any new fitness ventures.
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