21 Sep What’s right for you: Treadmill or Elliptical?

Treadmills are a longer established part of the fitness landscape than elliptical trainers, but they both have great, albeit varying, benefits for users.
The biggest difference between the two is that you’re not physically connected to a treadmill. There is no pre-set motion to follow and one size fits all.
Anyone from a rehab patient who walks at an extremely slow pace to a marathon runner putting in a grueling indoor workout can use a treadmill.
Right behind treadmills as the top selling fitness equipment are ellipticals.
Ellipticals are excellent for a cardiovascular workout that will not put as much impact on a person’s joints. Since your feet are placed on a pad, you are burning calories but not getting as much shock to the knees or hips as with a treadmill.
Another factor to consider is perceived exertion, or how hard a person thinks they’re working. Since we can all practically walk, or maybe even run with our eyes closed, it might not seem like we’re working as hard as when we’re following a less natural movement pattern on the elliptical. The truth is you’re working hard on both of them if you’re putting out effort.
If you’re trying to get more motivated, then this aspect of the elliptical might be a good selling point for you. The elliptical can be set for forward or backward movements. Elliptical handles allow a person to get more of an upper body workout than with treadmills.
Both pieces of equipment can usually change the plane you’re moving on and offer different workouts, such as fat burning, aerobic or strength training.
For hard-core walkers, joggers or runners, it’s hard to beat the treadmill.
However, for older people, those with joint issues or maybe just people looking for a new twist on their workouts, then an elliptical might be the best choice. Octane and Life Fitness are two leading brands for ellipticals. Both pieces of equipment are excellent ways to burn calories and improve your aerobic health.