Two of the most popular cardiovascular exercise machines are the treadmill and the elliptical machine. Go to any gym across the country and you’ll see rows of every one of these in all likelihood. And if you’re a regular at the gym, chances are you’ve used one of these two machines.
But for those considering buying a cardio machine for a home gym or regular use at a public gym, it’s often hard to know which is best. The short answer is that neither is better since they are totally different, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s review some of these attributes.
Which burns more calories?
Many think that since the elliptical uses both the upper and lower extremities of the body, it burns more calories than the treadmill, and in theory this makes sense. Full-body exercises like cross-country skiing, rowing, etc. are considered the best cardio exercises that burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time.
But according to Thomas Altena, a professor of nutrition and exercise physiologist at the University of Missouri-Columbia, who conducted a study on oxygen retention, heart rate, lactic acid, and rate of exertion: “The physiological responses associated with elliptical exercise were nearly identical to those of the treadmill exercise.” Another study showed that by extending the stride length of an elliptical, calorie burn can be increased.
Similarly, Brett Spottke of Exercise Equipment Expert found that a 150-pound adult will burn up to 741 calories per hour on a treadmill and 591 on an elliptical, other things being equal.
Versatility and ease of use
As we circumvented above, since ellipticals use both the upper and lower extremities of the body, incorporating a total body workout, they are more versatile. Also, and this is one of the most significant benefits they offer, ellipticals are very low-impact machines compared to treadmills. Therefore, they are better for a wider audience, from daily exercise enthusiasts to seniors and those with temporary or permanent injuries.
Conversely, treadmills put stress on your joints while walking, jogging, or running. This leads to injury problems, especially for the elderly and the injured. So elliptical machines are the best option for these groups by far.
Regardless of your choice, both treadmills and ellipticals are excellent machines that will greatly improve your fitness and long-term health when used regularly.