Your gym may offer both treadmills and elliptical trainers. You can get a moderate to intense aerobic workout on either of these machines, and they both have certain advantages. The elliptical trainer provides a useful alternative to the treadmill, and, for some exercisers, it may provide benefits the treadmill lacks.
Impact
Running on a treadmill provides a high-impact weight-bearing workout, while walking on a treadmill or exercising on an elliptical trainer provides a low-impact weight-bearing workout. Adults with osteoporosis or frail bones may not be able to perform high-impact workouts safely. The elliptical trainer provides an alternative to treadmill running that puts less stress on the knees and hips.
Calories Burned
Elliptical trainer workouts burn more calories than walking on a treadmill, but not as many calories as running on a treadmill. In one hour, a 160-lb. adult can burn 584 calories by running at 5 mph or 986 calories by running at 8 mph, according to the Mayo Clinic. In one hour of low-impact aerobic exercise on an elliptical trainer, a 160-lb. adult can burn 365 calories. Walking at 3.5 mph can burn about 277 calories in one hour for a 160-lb. person.
Benefits
Both elliptical and treadmill workouts can benefit your health in a variety of ways. Regular aerobic exercise can reduce your risk of diseases, including heart disease, strokes, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and some cancers. Aerobic exercise can also improve your mood and help you sleep better at night. Weight-bearing exercise, such as running on a treadmill or exercising on an elliptical, can help you build bone density and prevent osteoporosis. High-impact forms of weight-bearing exercise, such as running, provide greater bone-strengthening benefits than low-impact exercises.
Variety
You can pedal either forwards or in reverse on an elliptical trainer, allowing you to work a greater variety of muscles than you would with a walking or running workout. Some types of elliptical trainers also have poles that you can push or pull with your arms, allowing you to work muscles in your upper body. Treadmills allow you to add variety to your running or walking workout with adjustable incline planes.
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