Which would you choose? An elliptical or a treadmill for joint health and weight loss? The elliptical are made to protect your joints with a smooth motion.
The treadmill is made to burn calories quickely while allowing some level of impact. You’d like to not be in pain, but you’d like to lose weight. Which one do you think you can stick with long enough to make the right choice?
Both of these machines will create a caloric deficit which result in weight loss. The elliptical has low impact which help joint health, while the treadmill is high impact. But big question is, which one are you going to stick with?
Pick something that feels right for your body and something you can tolerate. People make their decision based off 1 workout. Make your decision on how you feel after months of using it.
Treadmill Versus Elliptical For Weight Loss And Joint Health
Calorie Burn Comparison
In general, treadmills will burn more calories because they’re high-effort motions (walking & running). Every time you take a step, you’re fighting gravity. That takes more effort which result in greater energy use.
The elliptical eliminates this vertical load. Instead of having to lift your body weight, you simply glide along. Because of this, at the same felt effort level, you’ll burn fewer calories per minute on an elliptical machine.
Does this make the elliptical worthless? Not at all. It just means that if you want to burn as many calories as you would on a treadmill, you have to go longer or harder.
Joint Impact and Injury Risk
There’s a trade-off, however: You’ll burn more calories on a treadmill than an elliptical. When you’re running, you place two to three times your body weight in impact force on your joints. That doesn’t bother everyone.
But it cause hip problems, knee pain, shin splints, etc. For other users. Here’s where the elliptical solves the problem. Models from brands such as Sole and NordicTrack simulate running without the force of hitting ground.
An elliptical’s pedals is always underneath your feet. Its rails distribute the load evenly. Maybe you have joint pain?
A treadmill could make the issue worse. The elliptical lets you continue to move. “Doing something every day is also a big part of consistency with weight loss.
Consistency and Recovery
If you get hurt and can’t work out, then you won’t lose weight. That’s one area where the elliptical tends to shine… It’s easier to use consistently because it is far less painful than running on the treadmill.
If you hurt yourself on the treadmill then it was counter productive. You will be sore so you might skip the following day to give yourself time to heal. This derails your groove.
With the elliptical you can move everyday with no penalty for moving the next day. It is easier to start. You don’t have to worry about getting hurt so you just show up.
And showing up is the number one rule.” The two machines also work muscles different.
Muscle Engagement and Bone Health
When you run on a treadmill, you’re recruiting your glutes, hamstrings and quads. Your body receives an impact that help build bone density.
On the elliptical, it’s another story. If you use one of the ones that has handle-pulling/pushing options (for example, Icon Health & Fitness and Horizon Fitness), it becomes a full-body workout. With each step, you’re working your arms, back and chest as well.
How hard you push the resistance settings determines the intensity. Lightly working out will burn very few calories. Pushing hard against high resistance can make it tough.
Be truthful to yourself on how hard you work. Your decision will also be influenced by budget and space. Treadmills at home are loud and bulky (and pricey).
Home Gym Space and Noise
If you get something good, like a Matrix or ProForm commercial treadmill, you’ll need to dedicate some serious space for it. It’s also going to weigh a ton. An elliptical is bulky as well.
But tends to be less noisy. While a treadmill has impact noise coming off of the motor and belt, there’s no noise with an elliptical due to its magnetic resistance. Especially if you’re in an apartment or have downstairs neighbors, this makes a difference.
When you’re tired after work, the quiet one gets used more often. So how do you decide? Let your body type and past experiences be your guide.
Choosing the Right Machine
Do you have bad knees or other joint problems? Try the elliptical first. This machine is joint-friendly.
Are your joints super strong? Are you young or lightweight? Give the treadmill a go.
It provides more intensity (and better bone health benefits). Or try both. Do high-intensity interval training on the treadmill and a recovery day on the elliptical.
The machine that gets you moving forward is the best machine. Whatever gets you going is what you should of focus on.
