What Is Better: Recumbent Bikes Or Elliptical Training?

The Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, reports that as of 2008 more than 30 percent of all adults in the United States are obese. This figure indicates that the need for home fitness equipment continues to be significant. Choosing between fitness equipment such as the recumbent bike or elliptical trainer is a matter of understanding your fitness needs, goals and budget.

Function

Both recumbent exercise bicycles and elliptical trainers provide a low-impact alternative to fitness equipment such as treadmills and upright stationary bikes. On the recumbent bike, this is accomplished by sitting in a bucket seat with your feet elevated in front of you while you pedal. According to medical doctor Paul K. Nolan, this provides a "much broader distribution of the body weight across the more anatomically correct padded areas of the buttocks and across the back."

Elliptical trainers have you stand with your feet planted on platforms that move in an elliptical motion, simulating walking or running without your knees and hips enduring the stress of hitting the ground. While this motion is very low impact, the American College of Sports Medicine notes that you must have correct posture while on an elliptical to reap its full benefits.

Features

Recumbent bikes and elliptical trainers are available with a wide range of features depending on the quality of the machine you purchase. The resistance system used can be an important factor because it largely determines the smoothness of the pedal stroke. Lesser quality recumbent bikes use a tensioned belt, which makes for uneven resistance. Elliptical machines and mid- to high-quality bikes use magnetic resistance, which provides for a more even pedal stroke. An easy-to-read display console with programmed workouts is another critical feature. According to TrainerSecrets.com, having a quality display console that gives feedback and workout ideas can be critical in keeping you motivated.

Considerations

According to 2004 research conducted by the Harvard Medical School, a 155-pound person who exercises on an elliptical trainer for 30 minutes can expect to burn around 335 calories. A stationary bike user of the same weight is expected to burn 260 calories over the same time period.

Comfort of the exercise equipment varies with machines. While most recumbent bikes come with an adjustable seat to fit your leg length, not all elliptical machines have adjustable strides. This may make exercising awkward if you have long legs.

Expert Insight

A 1995 study carried out at the Medical College of Wisconsin and published in JAMA found that the motion used on treadmills, which is the same motion used on elliptical machines, is better at raising a person's energy expenditure at a given perceived exertion level than the motion of a stationary bicycle. This means that a person is likely to be able to exercise for longer periods at a higher rate of exertion on an elliptical machine than he would on a recumbent bike.

Cost

According to TrainerSecrets.com, mid-level exercise bicycles cost between $300 and $600. Mid-range elliptical machines, however, range from $500 to $1,000, and high-quality machines can cost several thousand dollars. Therefore, if you are on a budget but are still looking for a good workout, a recumbent bicycle may be a better choice. If money is not as much of a concern, an elliptical machine may help you burn calories quicker and more efficiently.