Cardio is one of the best ways to maintain your health, lose weight, shape a good figure, and exercise your heart. Such loads include jogging, swimming and other sports, as well as exercising on simulators, including on a treadmill or stationary bike. Each of these adaptations has advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for specific purposes and health conditions.
Pros and cons of a treadmill
Running is a more effective exercise for the body than cycling, as more muscles are involved during this time, and some of them are more significant. Therefore, a treadmill is preferable to an exercise bike for those people who want to harmoniously load their body during exercise. For example, a treadmill will help shape not only your legs and buttocks, but also your belly. Despite the fact that cardio loads cannot burn fat in a certain place, since it always leaves the body evenly, the effect of a tighter abdomen is noticeable thanks to the developed abdominal muscles, which are unattainable on a stationary bike.
Running on a treadmill is more efficient, burning more calories in the same amount of time on the treadmill than exercising on a stationary bike. Although the speed and pace settings of the simulators allow you to make the loads the same.
The main disadvantage of a treadmill, like just running, is a heavy load on the knee joints. Jogging is contraindicated for people with weak joints: this will lead to a rapid deterioration in their condition. And even many experienced athletes with strong knees notice painful sensations in the joints after several years of running. Jogging must be done very carefully! Firstly, you can run only in high-quality special sneakers with a shock-absorbing sole and an orthopedic insole. Secondly, you need to monitor your condition and, at the slightest hint of knee pain, stop exercising and consult a doctor.
If you are buying an exercise machine for your home, keep in mind that the treadmill makes more noise and takes up more space. In addition, it is more dangerous - the moving belt requires care and accuracy.
Pros and cons of an exercise bike
An exercise bike is safer than a treadmill: only the pedals move, which cannot harm you in any way. It is impossible to fall off such a simulator, so you can be distracted: watch TV, talk on the phone.
An exercise bike is also more beneficial for health, it does not load the joints, and in some cases, exercise on it is one of the few beneficial for people with certain diseases, especially those with sore joints or varicose veins. There is also less stress on the spine compared to running.
The exercise bike is compact and does not take up much space: some buyers put it on a narrow balcony and work out in the open air. It does not make much noise during operation.
