Stepmill Vs. Treadmill

Most gyms have both treadmills and stepmills, yet it is the stepmill that is most often left empty. Although the stepmill and the treadmill are two very different cardio machines, when used correctly both provide killer workouts that can help you burn calories, shed body fat, and tone muscle.

  1. Techniques

    • The treadmill and the stepmill are cardio machines that require the user to employ the proper techniques in order to see results. Both machines have handrails, yet for different reasons. According to experts at WeBeFit, the treadmill handrails are there for liability, safety, heart-rate monitoring, and assistance. Holding them during a workout is less effective and puts the user at risk for injury. According to Fitness Quest exercise physiologists Candice Copeland Brooks and Douglas Brooks, the handrails on the stepmill are there for light support only; any excessive forward leaning on the rails renders the workout ineffective and puts the user at risk for injury.

    Workouts

    • The stepmill provides one basic workout where the act of climbing stairs is simulated. The speed at which the stairs are climbed can be adjusted, increasing the intensity of the workout. The treadmill, however, provides several different workouts, including walking at a steady pace, speed walking, hill walking, light jogging, jogging, running, sprinting and hill running. Walking, running and climbing can all be performed at different intervals and intensities.

    Results

    • Both the stepmill and the treadmill, when used correctly, are effective cardiovascular workout options. Both allow for the toning of the lower body, an increased heart rate and the loss of fat due to the shedding of calories. The stepmill offers one way towards these results, since the primary movement is stepping, while the treadmill offers multiple ways to results, through walking, running, or sprinting at various inclines, speeds, and intensities.