The treadmill and the elliptical trainer are two of the most popular cardio machines and are usually found at health clubs or in home gyms. These machines are effective for weight loss or for cardiovascular training because they elevate your heart rate for a prolonged period of time. Compare the pros and cons of both machines before deciding which one suits you best.
Treadmill Pros
The treadmill offers its user a walking, jogging or hiking experience by using the speed and incline settings. Most treadmills are user friendly with a quick start option that allows you to manually control your settings. Other options may include selecting a challenging trek through mountains with an alpine pass or a trek through varying terrain with the forest walk setting.
Treadmill Cons
Even though the treadmill offers more cushion then concrete or asphalt, it is still generally used for high impact exercise, particularly if you run on it. High impact exercise is more stressful on the bones and joints and can cause injuries over time. Training indoors has its setbacks as well. For instance, if you're training for a race, you'll miss out on training in extreme temperatures, wind resistance, blaring sun, precipitation, and on an uneven surface, the website FitSugar notes.
Elliptical Pros
The elliptical offers a high intensity, full body workout to its user because it requires the use of the upper body, the lower body and the core. An elliptical machine is less stressful on your hips, knees and back compared to the treadmill. Also, elliptical trainers offer a varied workout when pedaled in reverse, which requires the use of different muscle groups.
Elliptical Cons
Beginners may find the elliptical to be too difficult to use as the full body movement can prove challenging if you have little to no cardio endurance. Also, the design of the elliptical machine can be uncomfortable for some people as the pedals are set at a certain width. If that width isn't the right fit for you, using the machine could aggravate your hips over time.
Comparison
People with lower body injuries may be intimidated by the high impact force of the treadmill whereas the elliptical will offers a nonimpact cardio workout. However, walkers, runners and hikers will enjoy the experience the treadmill simulates. If possible, it's best to include both machines into your workout regimen to reap the benefits of both. Variety will alleviate boredom, shock the body and help you continue to see results.
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