Treadmills and elliptical machines are common exercise equipment items in most gyms and health clubs. Both machines offer indoor options for aerobic cardiovascular exercise, commonly referred to as cardio. You can get a good cardio workout from an elliptical machine or a treadmill, but each machine offers its own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Benefits
You can get an effective cardio workout using a treadmill or an elliptical machine, getting the same fitness and weight-loss benefits with varying speeds, inclines, resistances and other machine settings. Although you cannot get the same level of calorie-burning and intensity levels from using an elliptical machine that you would get from running on a treadmill, you can come close, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Aerobic exercise, like using a treadmill or an elliptical, is the foundation of a fitness program, helping you to lose body fat, as well as strengthening your muscles, bones, lungs and heart.
Impact Factors
Although some treadmills have built-in shock-absorption features that aren't so tough on your joints, feet and legs, elliptical machines are typically lower impact than most treadmills. Treadmills that have shock-absorption properties are less stressful on your hips, knees, feet and legs than running, walking or jogging on concrete or asphalt, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. But an elliptical machine is even less stressful on your joints, legs, feet and back, MayoClinic.com reports. If you have joint problems like arthritis or injuries, running or jogging on a treadmill might be too painful, and using an elliptical machine is a good alternative.
Features
Treadmills don't have any features for working out your upper body, but most elliptical machines have handles or poles that you can use to work out your upper and lower body simultaneously, MayoClinic.com reports. Also, most elliptical machines allow you to pedal in reverse, working out different muscles in your lower body than when you pedal in a forward motion. However, the incline-adjustment features and speed settings of a treadmill can exceed the intensity settings available on an elliptical, making your workout more effective on a treadmill in terms of calorie burning and cardiovascular workout, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you run on a treadmill, you might not get the same fitness benefits from an elliptical machine, even at the highest speed, resistance and intensity settings.
Considerations
Using an elliptical machine or a treadmill can give you an excellent cardio workout, according to Mayo Clinic.com. But keep in mind that you should consult your doctor before you begin any workout routine, particularly if you have any injuries or chronic health issues. Your doctor may recommend one machine over another, depending on your individual medical status. In addition to an elliptical or a treadmill, you might also consider trying other cardio exercises like jumping rope, dance exercise or aerobics, as well as using a stair climber, stationary bicycle, rowing machine or cross-country ski machine, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Elliptical Machines: Better Than Treadmills?; Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Don't Play Through the Pain -- Alternative Exercises for Injured People
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Three Reasons to Try the Treadmill
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Types of Exercises
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