If you are planning to invest in a piece of home gym equipment to improve your aerobic conditioning and burn calories, you may well wonder whether an elliptical is a better value for your money than a treadmill or similar piece of equipment. While ellipticals do offer some unique advantages, the comparison is not direct; which equipment is best for you will depend on your individual needs.
Joint Impact
The biggest advantage an elliptical trainer has over a treadmill or simply running outside is the significantly reduced impact on your joints. Normal running can be very jarring to your ankles, knees, hips and back, whereas the smooth, continuous motion on an elliptical is far less traumatic. Even when the elliptical is set to a high level of resistance, providing an intense cardiovascular and muscular endurance workout, injuries are unlikely.
Low Impact Negatives
This low impact exercise on an elliptical does have a downside, however. Higher impact forms of exercise force your bones, tendons and ligaments to strengthen, in addition to your muscles, simply to be able to withstand the impact. Exercising on an elliptical, however, although it will strengthen your muscles and improve your cardio, will not strengthen these other body parts as effectively.
Muscles Used
Most ellipticals include arm grips on the side that are connected to the overall motion of the machine, just like the foot pads. This means that, in addition to the workout for your various leg muscles, the machine can also work your abdominal, bicep, tricep, back and shoulder muscles. Plus, unlike on a treadmill or stationary bike, you can easily run both forward and backward on an elliptical, which provides a workout for an even greater variety of muscles.
Conclusion
Due to its smooth motion and extra upper body resistance, an elliptical can be an excellent choice to mix in with your normal workout routine. This is particularly the case if you are recovering from an injury or feel that an injury is possible due to aggravation or overuse from your normal routine. However, since using an elliptical exclusively will leave your joints and ligaments unchallenged, you should also mix in other forms of higher-impact exercise as well for best overall health.
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