When seeking cardiovascular exercise, people usually flock to either the elliptical trainer or the treadmill. Both offer a high calorie burn and a good lower body workout, provided you work with intensity. What sets one apart from the other depends a lot on your goals and particular needs during your cardiovascular workout.
Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers offer a low-impact workout combining the feeling of stair stepping with the sensation of cross country skiing. Ellipticals come with or without arm poles to manipulate during your session to work your upper as well as your lower body. The elliptical trainer offers two adjustable variables to change workout intensity. The cross ramp adjusts the height or angle at which your legs move, thus altering the way in which the workout targets specific leg muscles. The resistance level adjusts the difficulty of pedaling---a higher resistance makes you feel like you are slogging through mud and thus increases your heart rate and calorie burn provided that you continue to move with vigor.
Treadmills
You may walk, run or jog on a treadmill---setting the speed anywhere from 1 mph to 15 mph on some commercial models. Beginners should ease into treadmill work, beginning at a low speed and gradually adding intervals at a higher pace. Changing the height of the treadmill's incline makes your workout more challenging and can create a significant calorie burn even at a walk. The faster you go on the treadmill, the more impact you put on your joints---especially your knees, hips and back.
Potential
Perform moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise on either piece of equipment by working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat. The calorie burn of the treadmill and the elliptical, provided you create the same perceived exertion, are almost identical---about 300 to 350 calories per half hour for a 150 lb woman. It is easier to create intensity on the treadmill because increasing the speed or incline makes you automatically work harder; on the elliptical, you must motivate your body to maintain a specific stride speed, despite harder resistance levels, to keep your intensity level high. Choosing an elliptical with arm poles offers you the ability to get both an upper and lower body workout---something that cannot be achieved on a treadmill.
Considerations
The elliptical is better suited to the obese, those with joint replacements or arthritis, and back pain sufferers. Failing to ease into a treadmill workout may cause shin splints, plantar issues or soreness in the hamstrings, calves and quadriceps. The elliptical provides the opportunity to work at very high intensities without creating any joint pounding and pressure. The treadmill offers a very natural form of movement and requires no real training to use. If you are new to the gym and cardio equipment, it might take some time to get used to the controls on the elliptical and the feel of the machine.
Verdict
Running on a treadmill probably burns a few more calories than the elliptical trainer because of the impact and the ease at which you can increase the intensity. However, if your goal is health and wellness---a cardio workout on either piece of equipment will help you achieve your goals. New exercisers are better off beginning on the elliptical, but should consider eventually incorporating some treadmill work to provide the body with constant challenges and prevent boredom. Those with injuries should stick to the elliptical trainer, but continue to challenge themselves by increasing resistance and changing ramp heights.
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