Many people know that exercising regularly is important to living a long and healthy life. This has lead some people to get gym memberships and others to buy home exercise machines. Some people prefer the home exercise equipment option, because it takes less effort to jump on a machine at home than it would to get to the gym.
The most popular pieces of home exercise equipment are stationary exercise bikes and treadmills. They are both easy to use and allow you to do other tasks such as watching TV while also exercising. But which is better for you?
Treadmills and stationary exercise bikes are not equivalent pieces of exercise equipment and each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. You might be wondering whether it would be better to purchase an exercise bike or a home treadmill for your home gym.
In order to make the right choice, you would need to consider you particular needs, physical condition, lifestyle and preferences.
Here are a few things to consider when trying to choose which is right for you:
Exercise Bikes vs. Treadmills: Calories Burned
Both exercise bikes and home treadmills can give you a vigorous aerobic workout and help you burn calories, lose weight, and reach your fitness goals.
Running on a treadmill will burn slightly more calories when compared to riding an exercise bike. Whether you walk, jog, or run on a treadmill, you are moving more and using more of your muscles than you would on an exercise bike.
On average, a person on a treadmill will burn about 705 calories per hour at a moderate exercise intensity, while a person on an exercise bike will burn about 498 calories per hour. If you are trying to lose weight, the treadmill will probably do a little better for you than the exercise bike.
However, there are other factors you need to consider before making up your mind. For example, if you feel more comfortable on an exercise bike and are able to exercise longer on the bike, then you will end up burning more calories exercising on the bike.
Exercise Bikes vs. Treadmills: Physical Stress
Before making your choice, you also need to consider your particular physical condition and how much physical stress would be put on different parts of your body when exercising on these machines.
Walking or running on a treadmill puts more stress on your back, knee, ankle and foot joints than riding a stationary exercise bike, because they take the full weight of your body with every step.
In contrast, riding an exercise bike is consider a low-impact activity that does not put as much of a strain on your joints, which will allow you to exercise longer and therefore burn more calories. One disadvantage of an exercise bike is buttocks pain that could occur from sitting in the seat too long. It’s important to make sure that the bike is adjusted properly to account for your particular height and limb length.
If you have problems either with your back or your leg joints, you should choose your machine accordingly. If you have back problems, you may want to consider a recumbent bike instead of an upright bike, as it offers better back support than an upright one.
For more detail on the differences between the two, you can check out this article comparing the differences between recumbent vs. upright bikes.
Safety Issues with Treadmills and Exercise Bikes
If safety is a concern because of age or injury, the exercise bike is your best bet.
If you have difficulties with balance or other conditions that could cause you to trip or fall, a treadmill might not be the right choice for you.
A misstep on a treadmill can potentially lead to falls and serious injury, while this is less of an issue with an exercise bike.
Additionally, an exercise bike is a little safer if you have kids or pets running around. Small fingers, tails, and paws can be hurt if they get caught in the moving parts of a treadmill.
Differences in Price
If money is a major concern for you, an exercise bike may be a better investment. They cost less up front than treadmills. They also cost less to operate and maintain, because unlike treadmills, they don’t use much electricity, if any.
Both exercises bikes and home treadmills are great options for people who want to lose weight and improve their fitness levels. Regardless of which type of exercise machine you choose, there are a lot of good deals on treadmills and you can also find some cheap exercise bikes for sale, if you know where to look for them.
Long term success in your fitness goals is determined by whether you are consistent with your exercise program regularly. If you are not comfortable and do not enjoy using your exercise equipment, then it is unlikely that you will be consistent with your exercise routine.
So it’s important to choose your exercise equipment wisely. The key is to get the exercise equipment that you feel comfortable using that will allow you to get the most out of it in the long run.
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