It is not so long ago that treadmills were the most widely used
pieces of gym equipment, however elliptical trainers are becoming more
and more popular for use both at home and at the gym. In this article we
will have a look at the pros and cons for both treadmills and
ellipticals to help you determine which is the best choice for you.
Firstly, let's have a closer look at what each piece of equipment has to offer.
Treadmills
These offer the user a simulation of walking or running either on a flat surface or on an incline, and they are a great way of improving overall fitness levels by improving your cardiovascular fitness, burning calories, increasing your energy levels and helping to improve your bone density.
They are generally very easy to use and offer an extremely attractive method of exercising indoors instead of placing yourself at the mercy of the elements outdoors.
There is a wide range of models available at a wide range of prices, but most will feature some kind of inbuilt computer to select the different difficulty levels, keep track of your workout and to help you get the most out using your treadmill.
The big drawback with these pieces of gym equipment is that although they are very good at improving your cardiovascular fitness levels, they only provide a workout for the muscle groups of your lower body, and this is where an elliptical trainer really stands out from the crown and comes into it's own.
Elliptical Cross Trainers
Just like treadmills, these are excellent pieces of exercise equipment to use for improving your cardiovascular fitness, general calorie burning and helping to increase your bone density, however one of the big advantages to using one is that they are also excellent at working the major muscle groups in both your lower and upper body.
When you are using a treadmill you are simulating running outdoors, and with each stride your feet leave the surface of the running belt and then impact back down. The running motion on an elliptical trainer is different, in that your feet do not leave the platform (they travel in an elliptical arc), thus significantly reducing the impact and strain on your legs and lower body joints such as your ankles, knees and hips.
This low impact form of exercises that people with joint problems, or the elderly or people who are recovering or rehabilitating from an injury or accident, can often exercise using a cross trainer, whereas they would not be able to use a treadmill due to the level of impact on the joints.
Most machines have a computer console that will allow you to monitor your progress and alter the levels of intensity and change the built in programs.
Which to Choose?
Should you choose an elliptical trainer or a treadmill? Well if you are looking to improve your overall levels of fitness, or if you have any problems with your joints then an elliptical is for you. If however you are training for a distance run, and you only want to concentrate on your overall fitness and working your lower body muscle groups, then you would probably be better off choosing a treadmill.
Firstly, let's have a closer look at what each piece of equipment has to offer.
Treadmills
These offer the user a simulation of walking or running either on a flat surface or on an incline, and they are a great way of improving overall fitness levels by improving your cardiovascular fitness, burning calories, increasing your energy levels and helping to improve your bone density.
They are generally very easy to use and offer an extremely attractive method of exercising indoors instead of placing yourself at the mercy of the elements outdoors.
There is a wide range of models available at a wide range of prices, but most will feature some kind of inbuilt computer to select the different difficulty levels, keep track of your workout and to help you get the most out using your treadmill.
The big drawback with these pieces of gym equipment is that although they are very good at improving your cardiovascular fitness levels, they only provide a workout for the muscle groups of your lower body, and this is where an elliptical trainer really stands out from the crown and comes into it's own.
Elliptical Cross Trainers
Just like treadmills, these are excellent pieces of exercise equipment to use for improving your cardiovascular fitness, general calorie burning and helping to increase your bone density, however one of the big advantages to using one is that they are also excellent at working the major muscle groups in both your lower and upper body.
When you are using a treadmill you are simulating running outdoors, and with each stride your feet leave the surface of the running belt and then impact back down. The running motion on an elliptical trainer is different, in that your feet do not leave the platform (they travel in an elliptical arc), thus significantly reducing the impact and strain on your legs and lower body joints such as your ankles, knees and hips.
This low impact form of exercises that people with joint problems, or the elderly or people who are recovering or rehabilitating from an injury or accident, can often exercise using a cross trainer, whereas they would not be able to use a treadmill due to the level of impact on the joints.
Most machines have a computer console that will allow you to monitor your progress and alter the levels of intensity and change the built in programs.
Which to Choose?
Should you choose an elliptical trainer or a treadmill? Well if you are looking to improve your overall levels of fitness, or if you have any problems with your joints then an elliptical is for you. If however you are training for a distance run, and you only want to concentrate on your overall fitness and working your lower body muscle groups, then you would probably be better off choosing a treadmill.
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