Treadmills vs. Elliptical Trainers – Which is Best?

I am often asked which provides a better workout, a treadmill or elliptical trainer. My response is, "It depends." Ultimately, the best fitness equipment is the one you are going to use. You want a machine that will help you achieve your fitness goals, and treadmills and elliptical trainers are two of the most popular choices. Below are a list of pros for both treadmills and elliptical trainers.

Treadmill Benefits

Treadmills accommodate the most popular forms of exercise - walking, jogging and running. Anyone can use a treadmill - it does not require any special coordination.

The speed and incline controls allow you to change up your exercise, making it more challenging. The programs that are included in most treadmills further add variety and challenges. They include popular programs like hill climbing, calorie burning and interval training.

The cushioning of the deck considerably reduces impact over running on asphalt and concrete. In fact, there are treadmills available that allow you to adjust the level of cushioning on the deck.

Elliptical Trainer Benefits

Elliptical trainers offer to exceptional benefits - a low impact workout and a combined upper and lower body exercise. Because your legs, knees and joints move in an elliptical motion and never leave the foot pedals, you never experience any reverse action. In comparison to when you run, your feet impact the surface at 2.5 times your body weight. That places considerable stress on your knees, ankles, lower body joints and your lower back. With an elliptical trainer, there is no reverse or jolting motion.

You'll find that some manufacturers market ellipticals as a total body workout. As far as a total body workout, yes, an elliptical will work the upper and lower body, but not in the way weight training will. It exercises limited upper body muscles. In order to get a total body workout you still need to go through the stations of the weight machines. However, the elliptical trainer does workout numerous muscles groups simultaneously. They include back, triceps, biceps quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and chest.

It is suggested that by utilizing more muscle groups in your exercise you get the following benefits: improve fat mobilization; burn more calories and fat in less time; build muscle endurance; and reduce your perceived rate of exertion.

For some people, the one drawback of an elliptical trainer is the elliptical motion, and the combination upper and lower body exercises. Some find it awkward and prefer the simplicity of a treadmill. However, for those who suffer from injuries and strained joints, an elliptical trainer is an ideal solution.

The Pros of Both

With both elliptical trainers and treadmills, you have the convenience of fitness equipment in your home. Weather no longer determines if you will get to workout. You do not have to make the drive to your local fitness club and wait for your favorite machine.

Both ellipticals and treadmills have models with wireless heart rate control. You exertion is determine by your heart rate. Many experts consider this the optimum means of achieving your fitness goals. Heart rate control exercise is popular among professional athletes.

As far as overall sales, treadmills are still the most popular fitness equipment. However, elliptical trainers are growing in popularity and are gaining on treadmill sales. The low impact, combined upper and lower body workout is appealing to an aging baby boomer generation.

As far as which is the better machine. I would suggest the one you will actually use to get in shape and burn calories.
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