Eliptical v. Jogging

Overview

The elliptical machine and jogging are both great for cardio workouts, but they work in different ways. Depending on your goals and physical condition, you may find one or the other more beneficial. For many people, doing a little bit of both is a good way to keep cardio workouts interesting and keep your body challenged.

Impact

The elliptical machine eliminates most of the vertical impact on your legs and back caused by jogging. This makes the elliptical a good choice for those recovering from injuries or those sensitive to continuous impact activities.

Resistance

On most ellipticals, the user adjusts resistance by increasing the force needed to push the foot pedals. A person can adjust resistance while jogging by changing speed, running uphill or adjusting the incline function on a treadmill. The resistance on the elliptical primarily creates the need for more muscle strength and endurance in the legs, while an increase in jogging resistance primarily increases the cardiovascular challenge.

Difficulty

The elliptical generally allows a wider range of difficulty than jogging. Jogging, even slowly, requires a moderate level of physical fitness, while the elliptical can be adjusted to accommodate those just beginning an exercise program.

Variations in Movement

The elliptical permits both forward and backward motions, allowing the user to vary the way the leg muscles are used. While a person can certainly run backward, it is often difficult to do safely. A jogger, however, can vary stride length to accommodate changes in speed, whereas an elliptical user cannot.

Muscle Groups

While both the elliptical and jogging rely primarily on the leg muscles, some elliptical machines have moving handholds that allow the user to add upper body muscular endurance training to the workout.

Calorie Burn

Contrary to popular belief, the elliptical does not burn significantly more calories than jogging. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, even though an exercise engages more muscle groups, it does not necessarily engage as much muscle mass; engaging more muscle mass will generally burn more calories.