Ever wondered if there is any difference between an Elliptical and a Treadmill? Or if it is just marketing propaganda?
A treadmill and an elliptical essentially perform the same task that they provide you with a cardiovascular activity and help you in burning your calories while improving your aerobic capacity but that’s where the similarities end.
A treadmill and an elliptical are completely different in their approach and no matter how similar they work, there are a few differences which set them apart.
So, are you wondering which would be a better option for your home or gym? We have listed down both the pros and cons of both the equipment which will help you in deciphering which one is a better investment.
Treadmills Pros:
- A treadmill provides you with a whole range of workout options from walking uphill to sprinting along, you just need to set the angle and the speed.
- It is a natural equipment which allows you to perform the mainstream tasks like running, walking, etc. easily and without any complicated mechanism.
- It is a high-calorie burner and helps you in losing your unwanted fat much quicker.
- It helps in strengthening your bones and improving your postures which will help you a lot as you age.
Treadmills Cons:
- It is a wide known fact that using a treadmill could pose a serious risk to your knees and joints as it tends to put a lot of pressure on your body joints, especially if you don’t warm up or run regularly.
- Performing a workout on a high incline could be harmful to you if you aren’t experienced enough.
- Holding on to the handles while running could be awkward and extremely difficult for those people who would like to keep a track of their heart rate while working out.
- Running on a treadmill can be a little hard, especially on an inclined surface which makes it a poor choice for most people.
Elliptical Pros:
- The best elliptical doesn’t put a lot of pressure on your joints and is a perfect equipment for low-impact workouts.
- You can train both your upper body and lower body at the same time with the help of the movable handles.
- You can also stride in reverse in an elliptical which can help in strengthening of various body muscles.
- An elliptical workout makes you think that you are working less, when in fact, you are working harder which results in your working out for a longer period of time and helps in burning a lot of calories.
Elliptical Cons:
- Most of the elliptical doesn’t come with an incline adjustment which results in less versatility than a treadmill.
- You can’t perform weight-bearing exercises because the pedals of an elliptical are suspended off the ground
Verdict:
An elliptical is a better option for all those people who have a knee problem or stiff joints as it is low-impact and can provide you a medium for an efficient cardiovascular workout without any added pressure but you won’t be able to perform a lot of variation.
It is a good way to burn more calories and have a smooth workout unlike, a treadmill, which might cause more harm than good due to all the added pressure on body joints.
Don’t believe us? See what these experts have to say 🙂