Stair climbers have a revolving staircase with handrails on the sides. Once you turn on the machine, the stairs start moving and you continually walk up them for the duration of your workout. Elliptical machines have foot pedals and poles that you grab with your hands. To operate the elliptical, you simply move the handles and pedals back and forth in a gliding motion. Find out which machine is right for your next workout.
Function
Stair climbers and elliptical machines have similar functions. They are used to burn calories and tone muscles. The biggest difference with these machines is the way they are used. With a stair climber, the lower body gets activated throughout your workout. With an elliptical, your upper and lower body get worked simultaneously. The stair climber works the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. The elliptical works all of those muscles plus the pectorals, deltoids, latissimus dorsi, triceps and biceps. The pecs are the chest muscles, the delts are on the shoulders, the lats are on the back, and the triceps and biceps are on the upper arms.
Low-Impact
The stair climber and elliptical cause low impact on the joints. Of the two, the elliptical has the least amount of impact. Once you place your feet on the pedals, they stay there throughout your whole workout. This is not the case with the stair climber. You need to remove your foot to place it on the next step. Being that you are stepping upward though, this still places minimal impact on your joints.
Bone Health
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes a weakening of the bones. This especially takes place in women, and the older you get, the more susceptible you become. Weight-bearing aerobic exercise is used as a preventive measure for osteoporosis. Stair climbing and elliptical training are weight-bearing and they work directly on the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine to slow mineral loss, according to the Mayo Clinic's website.
Calories
As far as caloric expenditure goes, elliptical training is higher. A 200 lb. person burns about 1,030 calories with 60 minutes of elliptical training. That same individual burns about 815 calories in an hour-long stair climbing session. If this was your weight, you can lose more than a pound a week if you exercise every day. This is because it takes a 3,500 calorie expenditure to lose 1 lb.
Benefits
Stair climbing and elliptical training are both types of physical activity. Regular bouts of physical activity can help reduce blood pressure, control diabetes and control blood lipid abnormalities, according to the American Heart Association. The stair climber can help improve your daily performance with activities as well. For example, if you have to walk up several flights of stairs to get to a meeting, you can do this without feeling winded.
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