The Treadmill vs. The Elliptical
Author: Shannon Miller
For those of you who have recently taken up working out at the gym or who are thinking about doing so soon, imagine that you’re at the gym and you’re ready to get that heart rate up! Two likely options are the treadmill and the elliptical.
Which do you choose?
Both make for great workouts, so it largely depends on what type of workout you like. There are some basic differences between the 2 machines.
The elliptical allows you to work out your upper and lower body, as both your arms and legs are going when using this machine.
As such, with the elliptical, you’re able to work out a wider variety of muscles. Rather than pounding the pavement or treadmill the elliptical works a circular range of motion. Thus the elliptical can be easier on your knees and ankles.
The treadmill focuses more on a workout for the lower body, as you use this machine to either walk or run.
That being said, a treadmill workout is somewhat higher impact than an elliptical workout. It you love to take walks or long runs but aren’t interested in running in the heat of summer, cold of winter or rainy days then you may want to go with the treadmill for a similar workout.