Your ideal workout and optimal exercise equipment depend largely on your personal fitness goals. For example, if you're looking to build muscle mass and improve strength, short bursts of strenuous activity will help your musculature develop. If you'd rather lose weight, you should practice endurance activities that elevate your heart rate and breathing over a longer period of time. Before beginning any new exercise routine, consult with your doctor about any potential health risks.
Benefits of Treadmills
Treadmills are easy to find, ranking among the most popular pieces of gym equipment. In addition, a treadmill is adaptable to exercise at your chosen intensity, whether you prefer low-impact walking or a vigorous run. If you're preparing for a running event, such as a marathon or 5K, training on a treadmill offers a better simulation of outdoor running than you'll get from an elliptical machine. Maintaining proper posture will also improve your workout. Keep your posture upright as you use the treadmill and avoid leaning your arms on the machine's frame.
Benefits of Ellipticals
If you have joint problems or chronic health conditions, an elliptical offers a lower impact alternative to the basic treadmill. Instead of subjecting your body to jarring strikes with each foot-fall, you keep your feet in oscillating stirrups. The movement of the stirrups replicates the motion your feet would make during normal running or jogging. The design of an elliptical machine also allows you to pedal in reverse, as if you were running backwards; doing so will work slightly different muscles, contributing to a more varied workout. In addition, many elliptical machines have moving poles that you can grip with your hands, much like ski poles. The poles oscillate along with the pedals, incorporating your upper body into the exercise.
Benefits of Rowing
Running on a treadmilll or an elliptical is purely aerobic exercise. However, when using a rowing machine, you can combine aerobic activity with bursts of even more intensive anaerobic training. The rowing motion uses the entire body, engaging your leg, arm and core muscles in every stroke. In addition, the rowing movement is smooth and continuous, making it a low-impact alternative to running on a treadmill.
Selecting a Machine
If you're selecting a particular form of exercise because you're planning to buy a single machine for home use, first devote some time to trying out each of the alternatives and weighing your personal preferences. If you opt for a treadmill, look for a model with a padded belt to reduce impact. If you opt for an elliptical, find one with comfortable hand grips so you can engage your entire body. For rowing, look for a rowing machine, or ergometer, opt for a model that provides a brace for your feet; the resistance will help you to incorporate your lower body and core in each stroke.
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