Treadmills Vs. Elipticals

Treadmills and elliptical machines are pieces of effective exercise equipment for anyone looking for an indoor cardio workout. Both can be challenging and calorie burning. Each machine has unique and similar characteristics specific to the level of exercise that will achieve fitness goals. It is important to consider these distinctions when determining whether a treadmill or an elliptical is best at meeting your physical abilities and needs.

Help Prevent Injury or Reinjury

Using a treadmill simulates a run, jog, or walk outside. The tread is softer than hard pounding on pavement. It services as an alternative to running on gravel or grass that compromise ankle stability and which can result in injuries such as strains, sprains and fractures. On days of inclement weather, a treadmill can aid an avid runner in bringing his speed work and training miles inside without losing a day from the regimen. Alternately, the elliptical can bring your workout to almost zero impact. This is great for those who have injuries related to joints and connective tissue. The elliptical helps to place the body in the best form for running and walking to maximize the benefits without risking injury.

Tone That Body

The lower body is the primary focus for those using the treadmill. Whether walking, running or jogging, you are strengthening endurance, cardiovascular ability and leg and stability muscle strength. Select a treadmill with pre-programmed workouts and adjust the incline to increase the difficulty of a workout and add to the heart, lung and muscle benefits. An elliptical, on the other hand incorporates not only the lower body muscles but adds the upper body to the workout. Through the pre-programmed workouts and settings to select the target areas and foot glide incline, you are also able to target and isolate muscles that need to be toned.

Choose Your Effort

Effort is also a point to consider in comparing the treadmill to the elliptical. On a treadmill, the speed is automated. The controls allow you to decide with a button how much effort you want to use for any given workout and adjust that speed as the workout progresses. For runners, treadmills can be instrumental in helping new runners learn to maintain pace and seasoned runners adjust to a faster pace. The elliptical machine uses your own strength to maintain effort. It is momentum based which explains just why this machine is a favorite for toning workouts.

Conclusion

Both the treadmill and elliptical are excellent exercise tools for those in rehabilitation or physical therapy. They both help to build strength in the muscles and bones. They also provide a calorie-burning workout that is beneficial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and promoting weight loss or maintenance with proper diet.

Considerations

When starting any new exercise program or recovering from injury, always get the advice of a medical professional. She will be able to offer advice that will be beneficial to your situation.

References

• Treadmill Benefits
• Elliptical Benefits