Prefer Running On A Treadmill – You Can Get The Same Results With An Elliptical

Treadmills are a familiar sight at gyms and in homes. These exercise machines have been popular choice for anyone looking to get in a great cardio workout for years. Runners, walkers and joggers often use treadmills when their exercise routines call for aerobic exercise since these machines are easy and familiar to use. This is often due to the fact that they can still feel like they are running or walking on hard pavement when they are on a treadmill. What many people don’t know is that the can get the same results when they work out on an elliptical.

Get The Same Results on an Elliptical as a Treadmill

While exercising on a treadmill can make you feel like you are actually running or walking, it is hard on your joints. This means that a treadmill may not be the best exercise for adults over 50, especially if they are suffering from arthritis. However if you want to improve bone strength and joint pain isn’t a problem, a treadmill might be the better choice for you.

When it comes to providing you with an effective cardio workout both machines are a great way to get in some aerobic exercise. Treadmills and ellipticals are both capable of working the muscles in your legs, along with your glutes. If your main goal is to improve cardio health, burn calories or strengthen and tone leg muscles, you really can get the same results from both types of exercise machines. However, there are some benefits you can only get from an elliptical.

Since most top rated elliptical machines come with moveable handles you can get a full body workout in, and this is something you can’t do with a treadmill. While both types of exercise machines will usually allow you to adjust the resistance, only ellipticals can come with an adjustable incline. This allows you to strengthen your hamstrings, and tone your glutes during the workout. Strong hamstrings are something that every runner should strive to have, especially if they want to prevent injuries.

Benefits from a Treadmill

There are some advantages to using a treadmill that might cause you to keep one in your exercise routine.

Working out on a treadmill can improve bone strength, and this is often a concern for adults age 50 and older. Sometimes you might not want a full body workout, just some quick cardio. In this case 20 minutes jogging on a treadmill will provide you with a day’s worth of cardio.

Even though a treadmill can’t provide you with the same intensity as an elliptical, it can give you some variety in your workout. On an elliptical you can only pedal faster or slower, but a treadmill will let you walk, jog and run. You can also adjust the incline so you will feel like you are running uphill.

Ellipticals and Treadmills

Treadmills and ellipticals both have their advantages, but when it comes to producing results the elliptical often comes out ahead. It really does comes down to personal preference, but if you’ve been afraid to try an elliptical because you were worried about achieving significant results you can rest assured that this won’t be a problem. Before you start working out on either machine, it is important that you speak to a licensed physician to ensure that it is safe for you.