Elliptical trainer( second name - orbitrek) and treadmill are currently the most popular cardiovascular equipment. Despite a similar function, both these varieties have positive and negative qualities that determine their "target audience".In this article, we will describe them, and at the same time help potential buyers decide what is best to take: an elliptical trainer or a treadmill.
Treadmill
Advantages of
An important advantage of the treadmill, which caused its wide popularity, is a rather simple design. You can use the simulator without any preliminary preparation, and its maintenance and repair do not cause much labor and are relatively inexpensive. In addition, simulators of this type are compact enough, they easily fit even into a small-sized apartment.
Treadmill is a very functional simulator. It has a built-in computer that constantly analyzes the condition of the athlete through the pulse measurement sensor, and also contains in his memory several training programs of various levels of complexity.
True, this applies only to electric treadmills, mechanical simulators do not have these advantages. But the mechanical racetracks have their own strong side: economy. Classes on such a simulator do not require the cost of electricity and cost their owner absolutely free of charge.
Disadvantages of the
Unlike the orbitrek, the treadmill is not an integrated simulator. During training, the main load falls on the legs, while the shoulders, abdominal muscles, arms and back remain almost unoccupied.
It should also be noted that running is accompanied by intense, hard action on the joints( ankle, knee and hip) and leg vessels. In the treadmills of the mechanical type, this effect is enhanced by the fact that the trainee moves the canvas with his own efforts.
All this causes limitations on the use of this type of simulators: occupations on them are contraindicated by varicose veins, deposition of salts and other joint diseases. Electric treadmills can be dangerous for young children. Including for the sake of curiosity simulator, a child by inexperience can get injured due to falling, as well as tightening a part of the body or clothes by the cloth.
Elliptic simulator
Advantages of
The elliptical trainer got its name because the hands and feet of the athlete during the workout describe ellipsoidal curves. The main advantage of an ellipse or, as it is also called, an orbit is that it trains all muscle groups, giving them a full load and removing excess fat from all parts of the body. For this reason, the orbitrek is considered the best for weight loss from the whole group of cardiovascular equipment.
During training, joints and vessels do not experience shock loads, as in the case of a treadmill, the athlete moves gently and smoothly, imitating the skier's glide. For this reason, the orbitrek practically has no contra-indications.
It can be recommended to people with varicose veins, joint and spine diseases, as well as pregnant women and people who are overweight. Give preference to the ellipse is also for those who have old injuries. Classes on this simulator will not cause any complications.
Operation of the orbitrek does not require any material costs, because the work of this simulator does not need electricity. Thus, you will not only keep your fitness and health, but also your family budget.
Disadvantages of the
Compared to its competitor, the treadmill, the elliptical trainer is more boring, since it can not offer the same variety of training programs. In addition, to install it will require more space, which seems unacceptable to residents of small apartments. The ellipse differs and more complex construction, which, of course, is reflected in its price and the cost of repairs.
To summarize, we can say the following: a treadmill is an excellent simulator for absolutely healthy people, little familiar with hospitals and pharmacies. For those who are supposed to have sparing loads, it is better to stop on an elliptical simulator.
