The American Heart Association estimates that one hour of physical activity can add two hours to your life. Physical activity can come from a variety of forms, with treadmills and bikes being two of the most popular. While no form of exercise is necessarily better than another, some forms may better suit you depending on your fitness goals and physical ailments.
Similarities
Treadmills and exercise cycles both offer cardiovascular workouts and both engage the major muscles of the lower body. In regards to features, bikes and treadmills can be purchased with preprogrammed workouts, fans, and consoles that display distance, calories burned and your heart rate.
Joint Impact
The treadmill is a weight bearing activity, which is good for weight loss and maintaining bone density. However, the impact can be hard on the joints of the hips, knees and ankles. This is especially true if you are overweight. The Cleveland Clinic recommends a bike for the obese because it alleviates the stress on the joints caused by carrying excess fat. Because the stationary bike is low, or even nonimpact, it is less traumatic to the muscles and joints. This is one benefit if you suffer from arthritis or other orthopedic limitations.
Calorie Burn
Because of the weight bearing nature of the treadmill, you will burn more calories per hour compared to the cycle. The American Council on Exercise estimates that a 160-lb. person will burn 8.7 calories with each minute of walking. If you run, the calorie burn increases to 15.1 calories per minute. Because of the low impact nature of the bike, combined with a lower exercise heart rate, cycling will only burn 7.3 calories per minute. One thing to keep in mind is that some individuals are able to cycle longer than they can run or walk, so you may be able to burn more total calories on a stationary bicycle if you can cycle significantly longer than you can walk.
Selection
Which piece of equipment is best for you is really an individual decision. In reality, the best piece of equipment is the one you will tend to use the most. Many will go to the treadmill because of its higher calorie burn. However if you get bored and don't use it, then you won't burn any calories. If low back pain or arthritis is a concern, then a bicycle may be the right choice for you. If you're open to both, it doesn't hurt to mix it up. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a variety of activities to stimulate the cardiovascular system. This will improve satisfaction with your exercise routine by avoiding boredom, preventing repetitive stress injuries, eliminating fitness plateaus and expanding your body's overall level of fitness.
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