Elliptical vs. Treadmill

Elliptical vs. Treadmill – Which Should You Choose?

The elliptical and the treadmill are both used for cardiovascular exercises. If you want to improve your stamina and endurance, both machines can provide you a tool to work on your cardiovascular strength. Using either of these two equipments can help you in your goal of strengthening your respiratory system.

In comparing the elliptical vs. treadmill, the first difference that sets them apart is the length of time the two have been present. Elliptical machines have only been available recently while treadmills have been widely available for a long time now. This means that more people are adept in using, owning, and maintaining a treadmill compared with the elliptical. Therefore, as of the moment, more people still opt for the fitness treadmill over the elliptical. If you have a treadmill at home, it surely isn’t bad to give the elliptical an opportunity to be part of your home too.

Elliptical vs. Treadmill – A Brief Comparison

The elliptical and the treadmill both provide a device where you can perform cardiovascular exercises. Yet, the way that you can do these workouts differ. The elliptical is known to provide a means where cardiovascular exercises are done with less impact on the legs and knees. However, the exercises that you do on an elliptical is the same which can sometimes become boring unlike with that of a treadmill. The treadmill will let you perform different treadmill cardio workouts which can make your physical training more motivating and exciting.

Since the elliptical gives less impact on the legs and knees when used, it is less likely for you to experience muscle and joint pains. Yet, because of the less impact, you won’t also easily strengthen your muscles on the legs. Thus, if you want to strengthen your muscles and your bones as well, you should use an exercise treadmill.

The treadmill provides a more diverse way for a person to train. Moreover, people are more into running so having a treadmill at home can prove to be more useful for them. So, if you are training for a marathon, it is best that you own a treadmill instead of an elliptical.

If you have owned a treadmill for a long time now and you want something new in your cardiovascular workout, you can give a glance at the elliptical. The elliptical can give you a new way to strengthen your respiratory system. Furthermore, the elliptical can also strengthen you upper body since this is also involved in the elliptical workout.

In the end, it can be said that the elliptical and the treadmill burn the same amount of calories if the same intensity of workout is done using it.

Elliptical vs. Treadmill – The Verdict

There is no perfect solution for your cardiovascular strengthening need. Depending on your physical capability and requirements for diversity in workout, the choice is really up to you. If you want something new, you can try the elliptical. If you want the classic training with diversity in workout, you should pick the treadmill.