23 Jun Which is best for you: Treadmill or elliptical machine?

Deciding to start a home gym, or add to the equipment you already have, can be a tough decision.
Not only space, but money can often be tight. So you need to make sure to purchase something that will get a lot of use and bring the most benefit.
When you walk into a fitness store the number of choices can be a little overwhelming.
The hardest part is often narrowing down the search.
Here are some helpful tips to answer two of the most common questions when it comes to purchasing home workout equipment:
Q: Which would benefit me more, a Treadmill or Elliptical Trainer?
A: Treadmills offer great versatility for anyone from a rehab patient to elite athlete trying to push themselves in high-impact running.
Treadmills, like the home gym, have been around a lot longer than elliptical trainers.
Ellipticals follow a set pattern and since the feet are placed on pads, you don’t get the shock on knees and ankles as coming up and down on a treadmill. Ellipticals can be good for someone looking to change up their workout or get more motivation as it’s a different type of movement than walking – something we’ve all done for as long as we can remember. Elliptical handles also allow for more upper body involvement. Older people or those looking for a new twist to their workout might like the elliptical better, but whatever direction you choose both pieces of equipment offer an excellent way to improve cardio health and tone muscles.
Q: Should I buy a Home Gym or Functional Trainer?
A: The home gym is a traditional fixture in a weight room, with weight stacks and fixed arms or handles to push or pull on lifts. Common exercises are bench press, shoulder press and chest or leg extensions. For beginners or less athletic people, a home gym is a good choice because exercises are simple to perform and follow a fixed plane of movement. However, many types of people will be able to get a good isolation of certain body parts in the home gym.
The functional trainers are getting increasingly popular and take up less space in a gym. They use cables with different shaped handles that can allow for a lot more variety in the lift because it’s not on a set path. For instance, you can pull the cable to simulate a golf swing, or pitching a baseball. These machines can be more complicated to use, so proper training is a necessity.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com