Treadmills vs. Elliptical Trainers

When going to the gym for the first time, you might feel overwhelmed with all the equipment surrounding you. This happened to me when I first joined my local gym. One of my main concerns was which machine I wanted to start out with. My choices were between the good old fashioned treadmill and the newer elliptical trainer. Through my own experience and with the help of a little research, I learned the what my personal preference is.
Treadmills and elliptical trainers are two of the most popular exercise equipment today. They are both excellent tools for getting an aerobic workout in the comfort of the indoors. When we compare treadmills vs. elliptical trainers, each has its own ups and downs. Due to the fact that treadmills have been around longer than elliptical machines, treadmills are more common, however before you choice treadmill over the elliptical, you might want to consider the elliptical’s advantages.

The main advantage of the elliptical trainer is impact free component. It frees the joints in your lower body from the great force of running, unlike the treadmill. Another great advantage to the elliptical trainer is that is offers you a total body workout if it has the dual action handlebars for your arms as well as the foot pedals for your legs. Also, according to a recent study, the lack of impact on the joints allows the user to burn roughly the same amount of calories as treadmills with the impression of putting considerably less effort. Cristina, above prefers the elliptical because she says, "It is a good workout without feeling like exhausted after."
The treadmill on the other hand does provide a better training experience for a dedicated runner. To the right is a picture of Courtney running on the treadmill at the Surf. She enjoys this because she is looking for a aerobic workout in order to get in shape for soccer. Another example is if you are training for a marathon and you don’t want to go outdoors during the cold winter months, then you are better off with the treadmill. Another great reason for using the treadmill is that you can create some awesome choreography.
In conclusion, the debate over which is better, the treadmill or the elliptical trainer can have multiple answers. It depends 100% on your individual preference. Personally, the elliptical trainer is a better match for me due to the fact that in the past year I tore my ACL. In order to keep my knee joints free from impact, I choose the elliptical.

What do you prefer? Go to my poll and voice your opinion.