My Open Book

There is a healthy debate among fitness enthusiasts regarding the pros and cons of treadmill versus the elliptical. Both treadmills and ellipticals are great cardio equipment that help increase indurance, increase metabolic rate and improve overall health. On the other hand, treadmills have definite advantages over elliptical trainers and vice versa. With this article, we shall endeavor to put in our two cents’ worth of opinion.

Both treadmills and elliptical trainers provide for low-impact exercises since the motions involved are similar to the natural movements while walking and running. However, the elliptical trainer is preferred by many fitness enthusiasts because it offers no impact upon contact with the foot pedals. You will observe that most people with joint problems in the lower back, knees and ankles go on to the elliptical trainer more than on the treadmill.

This is because your feet are in close contact with the pedals during yoru workouts. Now, contrast that with walking or running on a treadmill when the foot impacts on the tread surface. Depending on the category you consider, one of the elliptical or the treadmill will have an advantage or a disadvantage.

Those people who prefer running as a form of training for events such as 5K, 10K or longer runs definitely will need to train more on a treadmill. This is definitely better if the weather outside is bad and you are training for a competitive event like a triathlon or marathon.

Lets not forget that treadmills provide you little variety in the form of degrees of decline and incline. Besides that you are pretty much doing the same motion over and over. Take note that for average exercisers and fitness fanatics alike, the wide variety of possible workouts achieves two things. You will be able to ward off boredom from the repetitive movements and you can challenge your body in new ways. In this case, the elliptical trainers win the bout, so to speak.

Also, treadmills can only provide for lower body workouts since the movements are concentrated on the hips down to the legs. On the other hand, elliptical machines give a great lower and upper body workout due to the various cross training movements of the entire body. Still, if it is only lower body workouts that you are after, then a treadmill will work best for you.

The final decision would depend on what YOU want from your workouts and your overall health/fitness goals. Read the features and benefits of the fitness equipment before making your decision especially as money is involved.

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