The elliptical and treadmill belong to the category of cardio equipment that imitates natural human movements. In conditions of constant bustle, eating the wrong foods and regular lack of sleep, it is difficult to maintain health. And such physical activity comes in handy, helping to keep the body in good shape and in high spirits.
But which is better: an elliptical trainer or a treadmill? This question interests every beginner who has decided to listen to his body and gradually come to the right lifestyle. In fact, both simulators give an incredible effect, but they have certain differences in the training system, as well as muscle development. Let's figure it out.
What tasks do they perform?
Or in other words: why do we use them at all?
- Promoting health and preventing diseases that may arise in the future. This includes training the heart and lungs, which means improving the functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, increasing endurance, reducing the risk of high blood pressure and the formation of pathologies associated with heart failure.
- Our desired weight loss (and preferably due to intensive burning of fat deposits without loss of muscle mass and exhausting diets).
- A daily boost of energy and a good mood from the results obtained.
Read more: Cardio training: when and why?
Benefits of treadmill and elliptical
No matter which exercise equipment you choose, both machines are great for daily or just regular workouts:
- Strengthening the body and preventing diseases. During classes, the most important systems are involved - cardiac, respiratory and circulatory. As a result, the organs are pumped. Their physical condition improves. Functions are restored. The risk of sudden jumps in blood pressure is reduced, as well as the formation of various pathologies that can negatively affect the entire body.
- Losing weight. Active running or imitation of skiing in combination with a proper cutting diet and fasting days on kefir or any other product are effective in the fight against extra pounds. In this case, only fat deposits are burned. The muscles remain unchanged, which contributes to the formation of a beautiful, toned figure.
- A daily boost of energy. High-quality cardio workouts are not exhausting. On the contrary, they fill the body with energy and give a great mood for the whole day. A little jogging will make hard work days much more enjoyable.
Comparison
Let's visually compare the differences between an ellipse and a treadmill:
| Treadmill | Elliptical trainer |
| Nature of movement | |
| Natural running and walking at different speeds and distances on a flat or inclined plane | The legs (and arms resting on the handles) describe an oval, simulating climbing stairs ( Weight Loss Ladder: Steps to a Slim Figure ), walking back and forth, riding a bike or skiing |
| Naturalness of movements | |
| A treadmill, unlike an ellipsoid, imitates natural human movements: walking, jogging, long-distance running. It is these types of activities that perfectly strengthen bones and muscles. | The ellipsoid is clearly inferior: we have not yet learned to walk “along an ellipse.” |
| Muscles involved | |
| Legs, back, abs, thighs, calves are involved NB! It is not recommended to hold hands, it reduces the effectiveness of the training! | Narrow impact on the muscles of the back of the thigh, buttocks, abs, back |
| Calories burned | |
| 600-700 kcal/hour (up to 800 kcal/hour) | 500-600 kcal/hour (up to 773 kcal/hour) |
| Load on joints | |
| Cushioning systems in expensive treadmill models and special running shoes soften the shock load, but it remains high compared to an ellipse, where the foot is constantly in contact with the support, and there is no such problem at all | Simulates walking without creating shock loads |
Cardio or strength training: which is better for losing weight?
Comparison of an ellipsoid with an exercise bike
For some athletes, the choice of a treadmill is obvious and other questions arise related to the choice of sports equipment. For example, what is better to choose for training: an elliptical trainer or an exercise bike? In this case, the equipment differs little in effect during regular training.
But, we can also highlight several comparisons that allow people to choose the best option for themselves:
- Dimensions. There are all kinds of exercise bike models available for beginners and experienced athletes. Instances of the latest generations are small in size, which is good when arranging a home room. Some equipment may be foldable. Orbitreks cannot be called compact equipment. They require a lot of free space to accommodate them.
- On-board computer. Availability and functionality in an exercise bike depend on the specific model. The situation is similar with the ellipse.
- Noise level. In an exercise bike, the comfort of training depends on the installed flywheel. Modern models are almost silent. When ordering a simulator with a simplified assembly, there is a high risk of getting equipment that will not be possible to exercise on at the same time as watching movies. The situation is better with the orbitrek - they are almost all silent.
- Efficiency. Any exercise bike gives excellent results. Moreover, the effect does not depend on the complexity of the model and the number of available programs. Same with the ellipsoid.
- Safety. The ellipse allows for a variety of movements/positions, which does not affect the body in any way - it is impossible to break or damage anything. The risk of injury is higher on an exercise bike. But modern models are thought out to the smallest detail. Some exercise machines have compensation for floor unevenness and other useful functionality.
- Harm to the body. You can get a negative result in both cases only with incorrect movement technique. Before classes, you should study the instructions and also watch training videos.
- Price. Buying an exercise bike will cost you from one to hundreds of thousands of rubles. The minimum price for an orbitrek is 10-15 thousand.
Helpful advice. When choosing sports equipment, do not rely only on functionality and the effect of training. Classes should be fun. If you don't like running, but really want to lose weight, don't take the track. Pay attention to equally effective orbitreks or exercise bikes. Better yet, use the recommendations of experienced trainers.
What is more effective and better for losing weight?
So, Broad Bone is ready to determine what is better and more effective for your weight loss: an ellipse or a path?
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness published the results of an interesting study by Irish scientists. It focused on the bottom-line results that the vast majority of people who exercise care most about: getting fit and losing weight.
Three experimental groups, each of which included 8 women, were engaged in fitness for 12 weeks according to a special program using various types of exercise equipment: an ellipsoid, a treadmill and a stair stepper.
As a result, participants in all three groups showed equal improvements in their cardiovascular health and decreased body fat. So for fat burning there are no fundamental differences between the mentioned exercise machines.
The most effective thing is to move and eat less
