Elliptical vs. Treadmill - Which One Should You Choose?

Elliptical vs. treadmill - the debate continues over which machine gives you the best workout for your exercise routine. Comparisons of the features are necessary since both types of trainer machines can cost several hundred dollars. Very few people can afford to have both. They are both two of the most popular exercise machines for providing a good indoor aerobic workout. Ellipticals have not been around as long as the treadmill and so people are not quite sure of all the benefits that an elliptical trainer can provide for them.

When you do comparisons of the elliptical trainer vs. treadmill, you will quickly see how low impact an elliptical really is. With this trainer, there is no impact on the ground so you will not place any stress on the joints in your lower body. The treadmill may offer better protection for your knees, but this can place a lot of stress on the joints. If you are a dedicated runner, a treadmill machine will give you better training than an elliptical. If, however, you want a machine that will give you a good cardiovascular workout, then an elliptical trainer is the best choice.

Ellipticals have dual action for both the upper and lower body and provide a total body workout. In comparison, treadmills provide most of the workout on the legs and lower body muscles and do not address the needs of exercising the muscles in the upper body. Research has proven that the low impact workout you get from using an elliptical machine actually burns more calories than a treadmill workout does.

Those people with knee and lower back problems prefer the ellipticals to the treadmills. Ellipticals also give you the option of adding variety to your routine by increasing the intensity, simulating hills and customizing a workout program. In comparison, modern treadmill machines do have an incline option and this feature is very popular with users. The biggest difference between the two machines is the ability to go both backwards and forwards on an elliptical trainer, thus working different sets of muscles with each motion.