Treadmills vs. elliptical trainers - Fitness & Exercise - Brief Article

American Fitness, July-August, 2002

Treadmills and elliptical trainers rank as two of the most popular machines in gyms today, but which one offers better results? According to Thomas Altena, professor of nutritional sciences and exercise physiologist at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the difference between the two is minimal.

When Altena measured oxygen retention, lactic acid build-up, heart rate and perceived exertion, he discovered slight differences. "In this study, the physiological responses associated with elliptical exercise were nearly identical to treadmill exercise," Altena says.

In two sessions, subjects exercised on each machine at the same intensity in terms of oxygen consumption and calories burned. On a rating scale from 6 to 20 (6 being at rest and 20 being at maximal effort), the sample group rated 13.42 on the elliptical trainer and 12.32 on the treadmill.

"In light of the small statistical differences, a practical application of this research would state that both exercise machines are effective for increasing the amount of calories burned and producing cardiorespiratory, health and training benefits," concludes Altena.