The elliptical trainer and treadmill are two popular machines for burning calories and cardio training. These machines are typically found in a health club or home gym. Both machines offer the user an excellent cardio workout but both machines have their disadvantages as well.
Treadmill Pros
The treadmill emulates a walking, jogging, running or hiking experience for it's user. The settings for a typical treadmill are user-friendly and allow you to choose between various workouts such as forest walk, alpine pass or quick start. Also, the treadmill has a cushioned surface which is less stressful on the bones and joints.
Treadmill Cons
Although the treadmill offers less stress then running on asphalt or concrete, it's still a high impact machine. Using a treadmill for long durations may lead to soreness in the knees, hips and ankles. Also, the treadmill is not designed for all body types. Some users may find the treadmill belt to be too narrow or short for their body, which will cause you to compensate by running with a shorter stride and not swinging your arms as freely, says FitSugar.com.
Elliptical Pros
The elliptical trainer offers a non-impact, full body workout by combining the movement of the upper and lower body. This machine offers an excellent cardiovascular workout without the impact of jogging or running. Also, most elliptical machines can be pedaled in reverse to work different muscles, says the MayoClinic.com.
Elliptical Cons
Beginning exercisers may find the full body movement of the elliptical to be too difficult and cause them to get winded quickly. Also, the pedals of the elliptical trainer are set at an nonadjustable width which can be uncomfortable for some users and aggravate the hips, knees and lower back over time.
Comparison
Both the treadmill and elliptical trainer provide the user a calorie blasting workout. The treadmill offers a wide variety of settings but is high impact and may be intimidating to someone with a lower body injury. The elliptical provides a non-impact workout which is suitable for someone with a previous lower body injury. However, the elliptical is a full body machine and could cause you to run out of energy rapidly. If possible, it's best to mix in both machines into your exercise routine to reap the benefits of both machines.
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