Treadmill vs. elliptical trainer - Get Fit

Shape, March, 2002 by Suzanne Schlosberg

The treadmill gives you a slightly better workout than the elliptical trainer does. "You get more bang for your buck on a treadmill, but not very much more," says exercise physiologist Thomas Altena, Ed.D., of the University of Missouri-Columbia. His study didn't directly measure calorie burn, but it concluded that to burn the same number of calories, you'd probably have to work slightly harder on the elliptical than on the treadmill.

People also reported a slightly higher perceived-exertion rating on the elliptical trainer; in other words, it seemed like harder work. Even so, Altena says, "If you enjoy the treadmill but have knee or lower-back problems due to the impact, the elliptical may be a fabulous alternative."