Why is the elliptical easier than the treadmill?

For whatever reason it is harder for me to walk on the treadmill than it is for me to do the elliptical.  The way your body moves on the elliptical seems like it'd hurt more or be harder than just walking briskly, but its not.  Has anyone else experienced this?

There's less strain on your joints when you use the elliptical. Your feet don't leave the peddles & your hands are on the handles. If you're on a treadmill, you're constantly pounding your feet up and down. However, the motion on an elliptical is an unnatural one, as opposed to walking on a treadmill, which is a functional exercise you will use in everyday life.

so...its it better to do the unnatural exercise that might hurt the joints or the natural one that could hurt the joints?

I think the natural one is better if you don't already have joint issues.  Low impact may be preferable if you are injured, or extremely overweight and want to get some exercise in.

High impact is important for us as women since it is what causes our bones to be stronger and less brittle.  It is important to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. 

Original Post by jessicasbc:

so...its it better to do the unnatural exercise that might hurt the joints or the natural one that could hurt the joints?

 Click here: http://www.slice.ca/Shows/XWeighted/Faq.aspx? Title_ID=97067

And read the first question "Why are you so against the use of elliptical trainers?" I found it insightful.

thanks cellophane_start, that article was very interesting.  i probably will start doing the treadmill more.

My doctor told me to use the elliptical is not as hard on the knees as the treadmill.

Am I the only one who finds the elliptical harder than the treadmill?  I can do an hour on the treadmill, work up a good sweat, breath hard and feel great. 

I do 15 minutes on the elliptical and I'm wiped out - leg muscles wobbly, exhausted.

I'm gonna read that article now that was linked above - probably it will answer my question.

i feel like i get a better workout on the elliptical mad4mood, but i feel like the treadmill is harder for my body to do probably because of my joints. the treadmill hurts more whereas the elliptical just makes me tired.  i think im going to alternate using both machines.  i dont want to give up the elliptical completely.

Original Post by mad4moon:

Am I the only one who finds the elliptical harder than the treadmill?  I can do an hour on the treadmill, work up a good sweat, breath hard and feel great. 

I do 15 minutes on the elliptical and I'm wiped out - leg muscles wobbly, exhausted.

I'm gonna read that article now that was linked above - probably it will answer my question.

 

Me, too. When I don#t feel like working out that hard, I go with the treadmill. When I need a good, tough workout, I go with the elliptical.

so weird. i can't stand elipticals, i never feel like im really working out even when i crank up the resistance real high. it just doesn't feel natural or right. i love running on the tread mill.

Original Post by cellophane_star:

There's less strain on your joints when you use the elliptical. Your feet don't leave the peddles & your hands are on the handles. If you're on a treadmill, you're constantly pounding your feet up and down. However, the motion on an elliptical is an unnatural one, as opposed to walking on a treadmill, which is a functional exercise you will use in everyday life.

 I guess everyone is different, has different opions..And mine could not differ anymore than Cellophane Star, or that fitness guy she was referring to. I work out to get my heart rate to a certain % for a certain amount of time. this encourages chemical changes in the brain and in the endocrine system that promote a myriad of health benefits- way too many to name here, and not really the focus. This, in turn, tells your body to burn certain fuels. does not matter if you are running, biking, doing jumping jacks, swimming...whatever. The ellipticle simply gets me to that point faster, with less pain, and keeps me comfortable enough to get my time in. I also road run on occasion to get the benefits of bone strengh. the ellipticle forces your legs to bend at the knee. your hips slightly move back and forth...your arms extend and regress. is this really unnatural? please seek the advice of a trained sports medicine MD before poo-pooing on a really fairly decent substitute for road running, and many peoples only option.

The elliptical is actually designed to mimic Nordic skiing, not running. It works fairly well for a substitute though, people have trained for marathons on them when joint issues have kept them from road running.

 As with any substitute, doing the real thing is probably better for you - but it's hard to go skiiing in summer ;)

hmmm...nordic skiing. I can see that...with the hands...the back and forth motion...that arm movement really helps to get the heart rate up - also, if you put on some resistance, and use your arms to really PULL against it, you end up with a reasonable bicep/tricep workout! yet another point for the mighty Elip!