In recent times, the two most popular workout machines are the treadmill and the elliptical. Both machines allow users to have the benefits of walking and running at their comfort in the home.
These machines help exercisers to develop their cardiovascular health. Although they have similar features and the way these machines work is pretty similar to each other, there are some key differences.
That’s why the question arises which one is better elliptical or treadmill. Some people find the elliptical best while others choose the treadmill.
In essence, it depends on a lot of factors, including user’s fitness goals, physical health, etc. In this article, we will try to cover which machine is ideal for whom, based on their fitness levels and physical health. So, let’s get started.
Benefits of the Elliptical:
Easy on joints:
As you know, the elliptical is a low-impact workout machine; it puts less stress on your joints. That means if you have any joint pain like low-back pain, knee pain, and more, you can continue workout safely.
Offers upper and lower body workout:
There are some elliptical machines, which features arm handles. By using these machines, you can have the benefits of both upper and lower body workout.
While striding, you can move your arms back and forth with the help of the handlebars.
As a result, besides targeting lower body muscles, you can also focus on your upper body. Anyway, if your elliptical doesn’t feature any handlebars or it comes with fewer functions, you may look for the best one on FitnessGearsLab.
Disadvantage:
Although an elliptical lets you do low-impact aerobic workouts, in terms of muscle development, it isn’t as effective as the treadmill. If you want to build strong muscles, then you should try to do exercise on the treadmill.
Benefits of the Treadmill:
Lots of control:
The significant advantage of exercising on a treadmill is it offers you to experience the versatility. According to your needs, you can change the speed and incline of your workout.
That means you can do a brisk walk or an uphill run. As you have more control over your workout, it will be easier for you to reach your fitness goals.
Builds healthy leg muscle:
We all know that by walking or running regularly, we can strengthen our leg muscles. We can develop the muscles of quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and glutes by exercising on the treadmill.
Drawback:
May lead to injuries:
One study found that a treadmill workout puts more stress on the bones and joints than an elliptical workout does. Even it can lead to injuries, that’s why experts recommend users to start treadmill workout with a warm-up and end with a cool down. It can help in reducing the risk of injuries.
Target fewer muscle groups:
Treadmill can’t target both upper and lower body; it only focuses on your leg muscles, hip flexors, and glutes.
Conclusion:
The elliptical and treadmill both allow you to get a cardiovascular workout. Which workout machine will work best for you entirely depends on your needs.
If you want to burn a lot of calories and build strong muscles, then you should do the workout on the treadmill.
And if you have injuries and can’t do high-intensity workout or you want to get the benefits of a full-body exercise, then you need to stick with an elliptical.