As per the American College of Sports Medicine Physical Activity & Public Health Guidelines, every healthful adult needs regular cardio workouts for maintaining health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
For serving this cardio workout purpose, both the elliptical trainer and rowing machine are excellent tools. These are the two of the most popular fitness equipment of the current era. Both of these machines shine on their own.
Despite having so much to offer, both of the machines are not suitable for everyone. Some people may find both of them suitable, and some may find any one of them inappropriate for their health condition.
So, before using these two excellent fitness gears, we must need to know whether they are actually helpful for us or not.
In this article, we will compare the elliptical training machine and the rowing machine so that you may find your suitable one according to your body’s preference.
Elliptical Trainer vs. Rowing Machine
1. Learning Process
Usually, people assume elliptical training as one of the toughest ones, and rowing is a very easy-going one. But the reality is different. Though the elliptical training machine seems complicated, it is relatively easier to use.
You have just to put the feet into the pedals and push,imagining you arewalking or running.If you want to do the upper body workout, you can hold the handles to swing the arms back and forth.
On the other hand, operating a rowing machine is not that much easy. You will require at least a training session from a skilled trainer or a good video on how to learn the stroke motionproperly.
2. Muscles Involved
Both the machines strengthen the lower and upper body together. But the rowing machine is better at strengthening the core than the elliptical machine.
The elliptical machine is not a strength training gear. But it can involve the chest and some triceps if you push the handlebars vigorously while pedaling.
3. Weight-Bearing Form
Suppose someone has osteoporosis, and the doctor recommended that he slow down the mineral loss in the lower spine, hips, and legs.
In that case, the elliptical machine can significantly help as it offers weight-bearing exercise. And if the doctor recommended the osteoporosis patient to strengthen the back, he should go for rowing.
4. Price
The prices of the elliptical training machine and the rowing machine are not very deviating.
But usually, a rowing machine is a bit less costly than the elliptical training machine as the mechanical construction of the rower is comparatively simpler than the other.
Summary
Performing aerobic exercise on such excellent fitness gears as the elliptical and the rowing machine strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves mood, develops stamina, and makes the immune system stronger.
After reading this article, we hope you understood which machinery between these two you should use for your fitness sessions. Choose the right gear for you and make your workouts more effective.