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Treadmill Vs Elliptical Machines

VydorScope

By VydorScope
in Sports and Fitness

Recommended Posts

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted

OKay so I hurt my knee yesterday pushing to hard on the treadmill. I am trying to move into a new work out pattern where I do heavy cardio M/W/F, do weights on Tu/Th, and load up on candy on Sat/Sun (LOL! Joking...)

Well now that i have a gym membership where I work, I have access to all kinds of equipment that was never an option before. Including these fancy looking Elliptical machines. So being that for the last 6 months or so I been running on a treadmill about 12-15 miles a week. and presently I hit about 6.5 to 6.8 mph for 40 mins with a 5 min cool down at about 3.5mph.

SooooOOOoOOOo if I were to try the elliptacl machine today (and give me knees a break) what does that translate to? How do they differ/better/worse? Etc? Never even seen one before...

Thanks!

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jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Hi V,

I use a treadmill (have one here) and do Pilates, so I've not used an elliptical machine.

Carla uses one, and I'm sure when she sees this, she'll give you some pointers. She's been away, but I think she's due home this weekend. :)

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted

i've heard that ellipticals are much better on the knees, but i don't know how they compare to calories burned/etc...

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

We have treadmills at work, which I use at lunch to get in a little light cardio, and I have an elliptical at home.

IMHO the elliptical pushes my heart rate up faster than the treadmill does. I don't run on the treadmill, I walk at around 3.5 to 4.0 mph usually, with anywhere from a 3 to a 6 incline (10 max incline). I do a slower pace on the elliptical and it really pushes my heart rate up much more quickly and my legs seem to tire quickly. I could walk forever on the treadmill. :lol:

Hum, knee-wise...my knees haven't hurt in a long time, so I have no discomfort on either machine.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I believe the ellipticals tend to be a bit more of a workout than a treadmill, and they are a bit easier on the knees - normally. One thing I don't like about ellipticals is the motion constraints - you're feet have to move in a set motion because they're on little platforms, and if you're not built to the machine's standards... It's not terribly comfortable, on the ones I've tried anyway. So I prefer treadmills, but I know lots of people who prefer ellipticals.

If you've hurt your knee, though, still be careful. There is still weight bearing on bent knees with an elliptical, though there is much less impact. Depending on what exactly is wrong with them, it could still be problematic. (For my knee problems and a number of others, it would be. For many other kinds of knee problems, it wouldn't be.) See how it feels for you.

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
  • Author
I believe the ellipticals tend to be a bit more of a workout than a treadmill, and they are a bit easier on the knees - normally. One thing I don't like about ellipticals is the motion constraints - you're feet have to move in a set motion because they're on little platforms, and if you're not built to the machine's standards... It's not terribly comfortable, on the ones I've tried anyway. So I prefer treadmills, but I know lots of people who prefer ellipticals.

If you've hurt your knee, though, still be careful. There is still weight bearing on bent knees with an elliptical, though there is much less impact. Depending on what exactly is wrong with them, it could still be problematic. (For my knee problems and a number of others, it would be. For many other kinds of knee problems, it wouldn't be.) See how it feels for you.

I believe its the same "injury" that I faced in my track/x-country days. There is tow muscle (or groups..) that control the movement of your leg, and one is a "tiny" one that controls the very last little movement from just about fully straight, to fully straight. Prbly has some fancy name like Libolataearliasfhuiasey-minor. :D Well what happened at that time was I was riding a lot, and when on a bike you do not use that muscle much at all, so it does not get as strong as the rest of the leg. So when you run it cant keep up and gets sore much sooner. The "cure" was to target it with specific exercise. Which I will do when I start my weight training on Tuesday .

It feels exactly like it did then, so thats my guess right now.

LoveBeingATwin Enthusiast
LoveBeingATwin
Posted

I prefer to use the treadmill or to ride my bike. I personally don' t like the eliptical machine because I feel like I have to stay in one certain motion. I can't really relax on it. It is a good work out, it just doesn't feel like a natural motion to me. I just recovered from knee surgery this fall and I think my bike, mountain bike that I bought a stand for use in the house, has been the best for me. Best of luck on what you decide and I hope your knee feels better!

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lonewolf Collaborator
lonewolf
Posted

I work out on an elliptical machine 5 times a week and love it. It's smooth and easier on the knees than a treadmill. I take my heart rate regularly, to make sure I'm not pushing myself too much. I probably spend 1/3 of the time NOT using the moving handle thingys (not sure what they're called). I love to see the calories going up fast. At my weight/age/level I burn about 10 calories per minute - as opposed to 5 cals per minute on the bike. I personally don't like to do anything inside the gym that I can easily do outside - like walking or running on the treadmill.

The other machine that I LOVE is the hand bike thing. It's like riding a bike with your arms and is great for your shoulders. It keeps your heart rate up without using your legs, so you can give an injury rest while still getting in your cardio.

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
  • Author

Welp. I dunno what any of these number mean? But I did 30 mins (max the timer goes up to) at "Level 7" which was "6.6 bike miles" but felt I did not really push as hard as I should have so I did 15 mins at "level 11" which was "3.7 bike miles". I kept my "speed" around 65 RPM's which was a comfortable place I did not have to concentrate to maintain.

My arms gave out far sooner then my legs, so I think I will try switching to it for a while. Once I got in a "grove" it was easier to relax while doing it, so that really helps prevent injury.

I forgot to take note of the calories. :( So I will just assume it was 1,000! :D

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted

It's important on an elliptical machine to keep your feet flat, if possible. A lot of people stay on their toes and lean forward too much, which isn't quite the same workout. If you're on an elliptical that doesn't have the arm movement things, make sure you keep your weight centered rather than leaning entirely forward into the handrails. That's how I understand it anyway. I don't know how the numbers translate. I just work out until I'm really tired, and then I stop, regardless of level or time. Maybe that's not the best way to do it :lol:

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted

I've never put much faith in the calorie readouts on the cardio machines...if I did, I would be getting nearly twice the workout on the elliptical machine that I do on the treadmill (17 cal/minute versus 10.5 on the treadmill). I know I am working harder when I am running at six miles an hour than when I'm skiing on the elliptical at level six with the incline all the way up. I know because my heart rate is higher. Vincent, do you wear a heart rate monitor? If not, you may want to invest in one. The only true and accurate measure of cardiac work load is how fast your heart is pounding. I'm up near my maximum for most of a good run, but only at about 60% on the elliptical.

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
  • Author
I've never put much faith in the calorie readouts on the cardio machines...if I did, I would be getting nearly twice the workout on the elliptical machine that I do on the treadmill (17 cal/minute versus 10.5 on the treadmill). I know I am working harder when I am running at six miles an hour than when I'm skiing on the elliptical at level six with the incline all the way up. I know because my heart rate is higher. Vincent, do you wear a heart rate monitor? If not, you may want to invest in one. The only true and accurate measure of cardiac work load is how fast your heart is pounding. I'm up near my maximum for most of a good run, but only at about 60% on the elliptical.

No I would love to, but not seen any cheap ones! :(

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
  • Author

Oh, I did check it with the machines monitor thingy where you grab two handles and hold on for like 30 seconds and it displays and EKG thingy and then I said and a few more times and it then read out 132 most of the time, but at one point it read 154.

Is that good?

dally099 Contributor
dally099
Posted
Oh, I did check it with the machines monitor thingy where you grab two handles and hold on for like 30 seconds and it displays and EKG thingy and then I said and a few more times and it then read out 132 most of the time, but at one point it read 154.

Is that good?

i have an elliptical runner, i get on it 5X a week for about 30min, 20 min of incline and 10 of just pure running, i have sore knees if im not careful and have had no problems on this, i know that its a good workout becuase i got out on a track at the local university and was able to run 45 minutes and ran stairs as well and felt good, i also run outside in the spring/summer/fall and have been training on my running machine since xmas minus the time outs for being sick and having my weight drop and my first run outside i managed 6km's before i had to come home. so i think their great for training myself, not a big fan of the treadmill it feels like im pounding my feet into the ground.

GOOD LUCK!

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted
OKay so I hurt my knee yesterday pushing to hard on the treadmill.

And, I just want to say how "funny" it is that you got RUNNING shoes and wham, injury. :lol:

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
And, I just want to say how "funny" it is that you got RUNNING shoes and wham, injury. :lol:

Hey yea--Donna's right!

Maybe you should go back to exercising in your boots :D

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted
Oh, I did check it with the machines monitor thingy where you grab two handles and hold on for like 30 seconds and it displays and EKG thingy and then I said and a few more times and it then read out 132 most of the time, but at one point it read 154.

Is that good?

The general guideline is:

Your maximum heart rate is (approximately) 220 minus your age. This is the number of beats per minute that your heart beats at its absolute fastest. But that is an average...if you are in great shape, your maximum is higher. Now, a good zone to be in for the duration of a cardio workout, a zone that is optimal for cardiovascular health, is 75-80% of your maximum. My maximum right now is about 190. So, if my heart rate sits at around 150-155 for most of my workout, I'm happy. A heart rate monitor really helps me here, and I got my $100.00 Polar model last year for $75.00. Not bad...

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
  • Author
The general guideline is:

Your maximum heart rate is (approximately) 220 minus your age. This is the number of beats per minute that your heart beats at its absolute fastest. But that is an average...if you are in great shape, your maximum is higher. Now, a good zone to be in for the duration of a cardio workout, a zone that is optimal for cardiovascular health, is 75-80% of your maximum. My maximum right now is about 190. So, if my heart rate sits at around 150-155 for most of my workout, I'm happy. A heart rate monitor really helps me here, and I got my $100.00 Polar model last year for $75.00. Not bad...

Hmm 220-32 = 188 * .75 = 141 so I need to push just a little harder then.

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted

Yep. It's an important guideline...what might be interesting for you is to see (if and when you get back on the treadmill) is what your coasting, feel-like-I'm-working-hard heart rate is on the treadmill versus the elliptical. Man, I've gotta have the resistance on VERY high and the incline all the way up on the elliptical for my heart to be pounding in my target zone. I suppose this is why I suspect that some people aren't getting the blistering workout on the elliptical that they think they are (cardiovascularly speaking, anyway)...

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
  • Author

Well I do not know how accurate the heart rate monitors are on these elliptical machines, but assuming they are... I did 30 mins at level 11 and that kept my hr over 170. Unlike the last time I used them,this time I REALLY felt like I worked out! LOL. Actually almost caused a hypo-crash. (I always keep fruit juice in my locker... good thing!).

I see other ppl reading while they work out, so I am going to try that. I know form experience that if I can distract my mind I can get a harder work out. Just not sure how to mount the book yet. :huh:

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I have no problem getting my heart rate up on the elliptical. To get it to 150, I do have to have it set on a high resistance.

I can't read or I slow down. I guess it works well for some.

nikki-uk Enthusiast
nikki-uk
Posted
I can't read or I slow down.

Oh yeah, me too!!! :lol:

I always see people having in depth conversations while working out and I think 'how do they do that?'

I'm all 'Don't talk to me - I can't BREATH!!!' :o

Cuervo Rookie
Cuervo
Posted

I preferr the elliptical machines to the treadmills. I find can burn twice as much calories on the ellipitcal compared to the treadmills in the same amount of time. Also the treadmills are sooooo bad for your joints, it may feel like you get a better workout on the treadmill but it is the pressure and strain on your joints that make it feel like you have worked harder. I never ever run on treadmills. When I do use them I will walk.

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