Which Cardio Workout Is Better: Stairmaster or Treadmill?
A regular and consistent dose of cardio is a crucial part of any fitness regime. However, deciding how to manage and squeeze the designed time of the exercise nicely into your week can prove tricky. Also, when it comes down to deciding which between the treadmill and StairMaster is better, you will have to conduct your due diligence in the same niche before you can come to a conclusion. Nevertheless, running is unbeatable when it comes down to pure cardio workouts. For instance, suppose you put the speed and incline at a high intensity; you will get a better workout on a treadmill than on a StairMaster; however, you need to understand that mere walking will not give you as intense and a perfect workout as climbing stairs would.
One needs to look at several crucial aspects while comparing treadmills and StairMaster. First, though the comparison might look simple, such a task has several variables than you might think, even if you cut down the comparison based on a fitness objective, such as weight loss. So let's dive in and examine which will provide the better workout.
Does a Treadmill Provide Better Cardio Than a Stairmaster?
The treadmill comes on top when comparing the high-intensity treadmill workouts, such as jogging, to high-intensity Stairmaster training. On the other side, the StairMaster like the StairMaster SM3 model provides cardio and strength exercises for the lower body and legs, whereas the treadmill exercise is limited to only cardio. As a result, jogging on a treadmill helps burn more calories than a more intense workout on a StairMaster.
The exercises on commercial treadmills are excellent cardiovascular exercises; they can help dramatically improve the heart's health. Treadmill exercises are quite a popular kind of exercise and the reason is their ability to maintain a constant heart rate throughout the activity.
People who suffer from cardiovascular disease or excessive cholesterol might be the ones who will benefit from this a lot. Exercises done on a commercial treadmill greatly increase heart rate to healthy levels. In addition, it can allow you to execute other workouts with more success and safety, such as aerobic exercises and weight training. So if your primary goal is to cut down on weight, a treadmill is your go-to equipment for your exercise routine. However, it would help if you kept in mind that high intensity workouts might not be sustainable.
With the help of working out on a StairMaster, you will be able to grow your muscle mass with targeted strength training. In addition, if the workout on a StairMaster is combined with a healthy diet, it will eventually be easier and a long-term alternative for reducing weight than a treadmill.
Also Read: ROWING MACHINE OR STAIRMASTER: WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR A PERFECT WORKOUT?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Running on a Treadmill Compared to Climbing a Stairmaster.
1. As an exercise enthusiast, you must understand that you will be required to exercise longer on a StairMaster to get the same workout benefits.
With a treadmill, you can opt for a more intense workout and burn more calories in the same amount of time. It will utterly depend on how hard you prefer to push yourself and what your goals are. If your motive is to cut down on weight, then a treadmill is the right choice for you. The reason is that a treadmill helps in burning calories faster than the StairMaster at high-intensity levels.
On average, a treadmill helps in burning up to 700 calories if you happen to run at a high intensity. With a similar intensity workout on a StairMaster, you will be able to burn up to 400 calories approximately. However, if you walk slowly or run at a lower intensity, the StairMaster would be an excellent alternative since it combines cardio and resistance training. Also, it will allow you to work and increase the strength of your lower body and will offer endurance while still getting in some cardio.
2. The StairMaster targets the muscle group more effectively than the treadmill.
While running on a treadmill primarily focuses on the quadriceps and the hamstrings, you need to understand that you will have to increase the climb to strengthen the muscle groups in your lower extremity. On the other hand, climbing stairs puts a prominent load on your lower body. Therefore, it helps in making it more effective at strengthening those muscle groups. You can activate your glutes and hamstrings when you push through your heel and move your foot onto the next stair. A strong buttock and thigh muscles will boost athletic performance, making it easier to run, leap, and squat. If you are looking forward to increasing the muscle intensity, try skipping a stair. Furthermore, a StairMaster helps target the calves at your legs' bottom and rear.
Also Read: OPEN YOUR OWN GYM WITH WHOLESALE COMMERCIAL GYM EQUIPMENT
3. The treadmill is a more friendly workout than the StairMaster.
While treadmill and StairMaster are both great workouts for beginners, walking on a treadmill requires less expertise than weight shift on a StairMaster. Moreover, a low to moderate-intensity treadmill workout is less impactful on the joints in the lower extremity than a StairMaster workout.
There are slim chances for beginners to injure their back when starting out on a StairMaster. The reason is that individuals tend to slump while using a stair stepper. They become so exhausted that they slouch as they try their best to complete the exercise regimen.
Verdict on Stairmaster Vs. Treadmill
A medium ti intense treadmill workout is considered a more effective and time-efficient way to burn fat and enhance cardiovascular health than a Stairmaster workout. However, the treadmill's superiority depends on the intensity of the workout.
If you are in great health and wish to improve your fitness while cutting down some weight, it would help if you combine both the workouts, i.e., treadmill and Stairmaster workout, with the help of cross-training on several types of cardio equipment that will help you in decreasing the likelihood of overuse injuries and boredom. It also helps to keep the body engaged. To get your hands on the best home Stairmaster or treadmill, you can seek help from Total Body Experts and get your hands on the best Stairmaster treadmills for sale.
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