Exercise bike vs Treadmill: Which one helps you get a better workout?

There are myriad workout machines available in the gym, which can help you sweat and give you a good workout session. But if your agenda is to pump your heart rate and enhance your cardiovascular health, then your choice may narrow down to the two- stationary bike and treadmill.

Both work differently and help you target a different set of muscles. That might make many people wonder which one is the best out of the two if they have some specific fitness goal in mind.

There isn't any doubt that if you want to enjoy the benefits of cardiovascular exercise in the comfort of your home, then the treadmill and stationary bike are the two best options. They both target the muscles of your lower body and help you burn tons of calories.

The difference is majorly in the way they affect your joints and muscle groups. Each has a distinct set of advantages, and here we will compare which one will suit you the best according to your fitness needs.

The first thing that we all look for is the number of calories burned while performing a particular workout. Whether your prime motive is to shed kilos or get in shape, burning calories is essential. The more calories you burn, the faster will be your weight loss.

Here we would recommend you to choose the treadmill. Even if you are walking or jogging at the inclined surface, you can easily burn up to 600 or even 700 calories per hour. In the case of a bike, even if you are going at an intense speed you can only burn 400 calories per hour.

To reduce the risk of injury, your form should be correct. Whether you peddle the cycle or run on the treadmill, in both cases you can get injured if your form is compromised. But the risk on the treadmill is higher as compared to biking. That's because running on a treadmill is a high impact activity. There is always a risk of losing your balance, stepping on the foot and injuring yourself. With the bike, the risk of injury is quite low. All you may experience is butt, knee and shoulder pain, which can be easily managed.

Adding variation to your routine is another essential element that helps you stick to your workout. Trying different workouts keep you motivated and help you challenge your body.

On a bike, all you can do is increase the speed and resistance that you use. The treadmill gives you more liberty to experiment. You can indeed increase the speed and try different workouts, along with that you can increase the incline or decrease to make the workout session more demanding.

The treadmill is undoubtedly an excellent cardio workout that helps to lose your belly fat, strengthen your bones, heart muscles and help tone the body. It primarily works on your knees and other joints, but there are some upper body benefits as well.

A stationary bike works on your glutes, calves and thighs. It is good for toning muscles, losing weight, strengthening the heart muscles and increasing lung capacity. A stationary bike does not provide many upper body benefits.

Overall, both treadmill and bike help you stay fit. If you are looking for something low-impact or are a beginner then we would recommend you to go for a stationary bike. However, if you are in a mood to run and are not worried about getting injured then the treadmill is a better deal. Even for maximum weight loss, a treadmill would be an ideal choice.