Home | Fitness | Equipment

Elliptical vs. Treadmill! Is One Better?

By: SD Mueller

Read More About Equipment

For decades the Treadmill has held the number one spot as the most widely used type of exercise equipment on the market. The Elliptical machine, however, has been rapidly making popularity and is now catching up with the treadmill. The escalation of the elliptical trainer in popularity has brought up the now common question; should I get an elliptical trainer or a treadmill? Which one is best?
The truth is that they are both superb types of exercise machinery. These Machines both offer an effective cardiovascular workout to strengthen the cardiovascular system and aid in the prevention of health conditions such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Many professionals believe that both are equally efficient in burning calories. So what is the difference? Let's take a more detailed look.
Treadmills
any person that can walk can work a treadmill. It offers a kind of exercise that virtually anybody can feel at ease with because it is an ordinary activity people do every day. Walking and running are the most popular forms of workout people engage in which accounts for the treadmill's huge popularity. Treadmills can also mimic hill climbing by adjusting the incline and intensity for a more intense workout for the hips and legs. One limitation of the treadmill though, is that it works just the lower body. The user can encompass the upper body, however, by carrying dumbbells and swinging the arms.
Another aspect to consider about working out on a treadmill is that walking and running are forms of impact exercise that can cause varying degrees of impact on the lower body joints, especially the hips, knees and ankles. This can have a considerable effect on individuals, especially seniors, that often suffer from lower joint trouble. Impact exercise is not always a bad thing. The impact experienced while exercising on a treadmill helps to create greater bone density which in turn creates stronger bones. Building greater bone density is very important, especially for women who are more likely to suffer from health problems such as osteoporosis as they get older.
The ultimate goal you are wishing to achieve is also a principal factor in deciding if a treadmill is best for you. If you are a devoted runner training for an event you will want a workout that best simulates actual running so a treadmill could be your ideal choice.
Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers have escalated enormously in popularity because of their fluid action which induces little impact on the lower body. Elliptical machines are sometimes favored by people with lower joint pain and trainers handling clients going through rehabilitation from knee and hip injuries due to the lack of impact which works the muscles of the lower body without creating stress on the joints. This lack of impact also results in considerably less injuries than with treadmills and less wear and tear on the equipment itself.
Elliptical trainers also have handle bars which enable a workout for the arms and shoulders. Therefore, users can achieve a full body workout instead of only exercising the hips and legs. This in turn allows for a more efficient cardiovascular workout as users are able to achieve their target heart rate in less time due to the use of the upper and lower body together. Numerous elliptical trainers also offer reverse action which enables the operator to pedal in reverse exercising a different set of muscles. Pedaling in reverse enables targeting of the quadriceps which is difficult to achieve using a treadmill.
Many physiologists have noted that the physical response of the body to treadmill and elliptical exercise is very similar. The lack of impact on the lower body during the elliptical workout, however, gives the user the perception of less effort exerted to burn the same amount of calories. This is commonly called "lower perceived exertion" and can create the feeling of a less strenuous and more enjoyable workout. This can be an influential factor in staying with an exercise program.
So Is One Better?
The bottom line is that treadmills and elliptical machines both provide excellent cardiovascular workouts and are great choices for most workout programs. The choice is a matter of preference and matching fitness or rehabilitation goals to the equipment you choose. Make sure you take into account your future goal, your physical condition and what form of exercise you feel most comfortable with and are most likely to stay with when deciding on a treadmill or elliptical trainer. You can achieve an outstanding workout no matter what you decide. Always remember though, the results you get are dependent on the effort that you put in.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

For additional information and reviews on treadmills, elliptical trainers and home gyms visit www.exerciseconnoisseur.com . SD Mueller

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Equipment Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Fitness | Equipment
Sign Up for a free account.
Our other websites
All about SEO
Beauty Tips Forum
Submit Articles
Member Login
Link Us
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
Sitemap
New Stuff
About Us
Developer
Good shopping portal
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

counter easy hit

Powered by Article Dashboard