Treadmills vs. elliptical trainers

Which is more effective for fat-loss, aerobic conditioning, and overall fitness?

Treadmills and elliptical trainers are two of the most popular cardio machines around. They both offer impressive fitness benefits, including fat loss, improved cardiovascular health, and more. But which is really the best exercise choice?

Well, first of all, studies show that - at least in terms of pure physiological benefits - treadmills and elliptical trainers are almost identical. When measuring the differences in oxygen retention, heart rate, and perceived exertion between two groups - one using treadmills, one using ellipticals - researchers found that there was little, if any, real difference between the two.

Basically, both types of exercise machines provide about the same quality of workout - at least in terms of cardiovascular, health, and training benefits.

However, if you're trying to choose between the two, keep a few things in mind:

• many people prefer treadmills because they provide a more 'natural feeling' workout (some fitness experts feel that ellipticals force you to use an unnatural stride)



• other people greatly prefer elliptical machines because they provide a no-impact workout (which is GREAT for anyone with knee, ankle, hip, back, etc. problems!)



• because treadmill running does involve some 'pounding' it may provide greater bone-density benefits than ellipticals and other zero-impact workouts (an important consideration for women)



• for both treadmills and elliptical trainers, quality can vary greatly between the different brands - be sure to do your research before making a big investment!

Useful Links:

Discount Treadmills Guide: A nice, helpful guide to discount treadmills available online.

Elliptical Exercise Machines: A simple guide to elliptical trainers.

Treadmills VS Elliptical Trainers