Some factors to consider when choosing an exercise are the rate of calorie burn, the equipment you need and how much you enjoy it. The NordicTrack Pro Skier and running both burn calories and benefit your cardiovascular system, but which you choose depends on your preferences and how much you have to spend. Remember to get your doctor’s approval before starting any exercise program.
Background and Equipment
The Pro Skier is a ski machine from NordicTrack, which also makes treadmills, stationary bicycles and elliptical machines. The motion on a Pro Skier is similar to that of cross-country skiing; the machine allows you to work your arms and legs simultaneously. By contrast, running relies primarily on your leg muscles. The display on the NordicTrack Pro Skier shows calories burned, time and heart rate. For the same information when you run, you can wear a pulse monitor that counts calories and has a stopwatch.
Calories Burned
Metabolic equivalent, or MET, represents 1 calorie burned per kilogram of body weight per hour, according to the Compendium of Physical Activities. An hour of running at 5 miles per hour, or 12 minutes per mile, burns 8.3 METs, or 581 calories for a person who weighs 70 kilograms, or 154 pounds. The same person, running for an hour at 8 miles per hour, burns 11.8 METs, or 826 calories. Ski machines, such as the NordicTrack Pro Skier, have a MET value of 6.8. A 154-pound person would burn about 476 calories in an hour.
Impact
Running is a high-impact activity because of the pounding of your feet on the ground or treadmill. High-impact activities increase your risk for shin splints and knee pain due to bursitis or tendinitis, according to MayoClinic.com and MedlinePlus. Low-impact exercise, such as you'd get using the NordicTrack Pro Skier, is a good alternative for reducing your risk of injuries while getting a good workout. A benefit of running and using a ski machine is that both are weight-bearing exercises. They may help maintain your bone mineral density and reduce your risk for osteoporosis.
Considerations
As long as you have comfortable clothing and the proper running shoes, you can run almost anywhere regardless of whether you are at home or on the road. You can run indoors on a treadmill or outdoors on roads, in parks or on trails. A drawback of the NordicTrack Pro Skier is that you can only use it when you have access to the machine. Cross-training, or varying your workouts, can reduce your risk of injury and improve your overall fitness, according to the American Council on Exercise. Some people might prefer to run on some days, and to use the NordicTrack Pro Skier on other days.
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