Treadmill vs Elliptical Trainer: When to Use the Treadmill or Elliptical?

Introduction

In this post, we will talk about treadmills and elliptical trainers, explaining to you when to use these pieces of cardio equipment, so stay tuned.

Treadmill — The King of Cardio 

Treadmill lets you run/jog indoors, and running is the best form of cardio for most healthy people. Running is natural, and is something we have done since the beginning of time. 

But not only that, running is also the most effective form of cardio, burning the most calories. The main reason why most people start treadmill workouts is to lose weight, and that is precisely what will happen if you do it regularly.

There are many treadmill benefits besides the calories burned. Running is a part of most sports, which is why athletes and coaches find many treadmills uses when preparing for competitions.

There are different treadmill types, and different treadmill exercises, but they are all targeted towards getting in better shape, burning fat, or improving performance.

And it doesn't always need to be long and boring. If you want something challenging, you can always opt for a treadmill HIIT workout that will torch calories in the shortest time possible. Just go 30 seconds of sprinting, followed by 60 seconds of moderate tempo, and repeat those cycles for 15 minutes.

Elliptical Trainer — Joint-Friendly and Effective Cardio

As we said, treadmill workouts are excellent for most healthy individuals looking to lose weight or get in better shape as they mimic running.

But, running is not for everyone. While it is true that it is the most effective way of cardio, it is suitable only for those who are completely healthy. If you have ankle, knee, hip, or back problems, or if you are severely overweight, running is not a good option.

Running/jogging is a high-impact activity. Your full body weight is hitting the ground with every stride, over and over again. If you carry extra weight or have bad joints, that is something that will cause more harm than good, especially after a prolonged period.

That's why treadmill alternatives such as elliptical trainers or stationary bikes are an excellent option for those of you who have issues with joints, or weight. These pieces of cardio equipment allow you to workout safely without compromising your joints, reducing the injury risk. Because of that, you will be able to work out more often, which will show better long term results.

And, elliptical has one more benefit—it trains your upper body as well. When you run or cycle, your arms do nothing. That is not the case on the elliptical, as it forces you to use your arms during workouts, helping you tone your upper body too.

Conclusion

For most people, a treadmill is a better option than elliptical or other pieces of cardio equipment. But, if you can, use both, switching from time to time. That will keep things interesting, making it more likely for you to stick to regular exercise.

If you are looking to purchase cardio equipment for your home gym, check out what we have at Strength & Fitness. Every treadmill you can find in our online store is premium and requires minimal maintenance. That means you will be able to exercise for years without thinking about your equipment.