Rowing Machines Vs. Treadmill
A rowing machine, also known as an ergometer, is a remarkable piece of workout equipment with distinct features. Rowing machines are generally designed to emulate the moves of the rowers who paddle their boats in the water. To use the unit, the user will need to sit on the provided sliding board, then slide upwards of the machine by stretching the legs.
The next thing is pulling action that involves using your core and arms. At the back of the machine, take a short pause and reverse the move to slide to the front- you basically extend your arms, the body and contract your legs. Perform the movements several times to hit your daily workout routine.
The movements done on a rowing machine offers full-body workouts as it involves all the major muscle groups in your body.
A treadmill, on the other hand, is an equipment that allows you to complete aerobic workouts efficiently. It is an essential piece of equipment for anyone looking to start a workout routine because walking and jogging is well supported by most, no matter your current fitness level. You can efficiently improve your strength and endurance with the treadmill.
Treadmills are typically user-friendly. If you have difficulty walking on a slant or fret about uneven terrain, now you can do it on your treadmill safely as it has a flat workout surface. Additionally, most of the treadmills include built-in workout programs that allow you to exercise at different speeds and intensity, making your workout sessions more challenging. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Rowing Machine vs. Treadmill- In-depth Review
To help make the most suitable decision, we have created this comparison in the most comprehensive way possible, focusing on the key aspects to consider when making the purchase.
Overall workout
Both rowing and treadmill machine offers a great cardiovascular workout experience that can:
- Burn excess calories
- Brighten up mood
- Boost confidence
- Increase bone density
- Improve sleeping patens
- Facilitate weight loss
- Increase energy level
- Reduce stress
- Minimize the risk of heart disease
- Improve heart and lungs
With a treadmill machine, you can easily customize your running speed as the incline levels to intensify your workouts. The various muscles exercised on a treadmill are leg muscles, quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and calves.
On the other hand, rowing machines provide an adjustable resistance system based on the user endurance level, and you can row as fast as you can. Rowing workouts involves most of the parts in your whole body.
Rowing machines are generally designed to exercise both the lower and upper body simultaneously. Contrary the treadmill works just on your lower body.
In case you want to cut your overall weight loss, then a rowing machine is a better option as it offers the same cardio workout as in treadmill, but as well builds more muscle. Rowing machines can similarly elevate metabolism for a while after workouts.
Cardio and Weight Loss
When it comes to burning calories, both machines work in very varied ways, and the cardio benefits you get is subject to how vigorous your workout sessions are. You’ll need to run at a speed of at least 5 MPH on a treadmill to burn calories compared to that one can burn using a rowing machine.
Nonetheless, if you step up the inline-level on your treadmill routine, the number of calories burned will possibly be much higher compared to rowing.
Muscle Gain & Tone
Rowing machines exercise the entire body; upper, core, and lower; contrary to treadmills. A treadmill will mostly work on your leg muscles. Although you can develop your strength and tone muscle in your calves, glutes, and hamstrings, it’s not as much as you can achieve on a rowing machine.
Rowing machines work on more muscles compared to treadmills. Therefore, as far as muscle gain is concerned, the rowing machine is much better than a treadmill.
Reliability
Treadmills are less reliable as compared to rowing machines since they use electricity to run their large motors, and have tread belts. A tread belt is an area where you run on and can wear out and demand replacement depending on the user’s weight. Moreover, treadmill motors might fault, and this is why most manufacturers don’t provide an extensive warranty on motor units.
On the other, rowing machines are said to be more dependable than treadmills because they don’t need electricity, no motors, and no tread belts. Apparently, rowing machines have the edge over treadmills when it comes to reliability.
Gentle Joints
Treadmill workouts are considered low-impact, but when done on a more extended period, it is not beneficial for persons who have issues with their knees, back, and ankles.
Rowing is another low-impact workout. It isn’t associated with weight-bearing leading to less wear and tears on your joint system. If you have sensitive joints, or maybe arthritis, rowing workouts are more recommended rather than jogging or running on a treadmill.
Always ensure you maintain a proper position when exercising. Extend your entire foot while rowing. Not just your toes but involve your heels as well, so you don’t strain your knees.
Calories Burned
A person with 155 pounds of body weight rowing at a moderate pace can burn up to 529 calories/hr. But if you do it at a more energetic pace, you can burn as much as 632 calories/hr.
On the other hand, an individual performing an hour of abrupt walking on a treadmill at a pace of 3.5 mph can burn about 300 calories. Jogging at 5 mph on a treadmill will let you burn about 600 calories. Nonetheless, if you run at a speed of 8 mph, you can burn an estimated amount of 1100 calories.
Impact & stress
Low speed running on a treadmill will offer a low-impact workout, but if you jog or run more intensively, a higher-impact workout is what you experience. The running deck is cushioned, so it’ll be friendlier to your joints compared to running on the sidewalks or streets.
Rowing machines, on the other hand, causes no impact at all because your feet remain attached to the machine. The back/forth movements will cause stress on your back, hips, ankles, feet, and knees since you’ll be using your muscles to pull and push against resistance.
Shift Mood
One more incredible aspect of rowing machines is that they don’t just improve your aerobic skills, making your muscles more powerful. Indeed they can help transform your mood completely in case you’re dealing with stress.
This is because daily cardio workouts can help with the production of endorphins. These are feel-good chemicals released by the brain whenever you complete an intense workout, and they help to combat fatigue, develop your thinking capacities, and keep you safe from deliberating moods of stress.
Fitness Level & Motivation
A treadmill is one of the simplest workout machines to use at home. Knowing how to brisk walk, run, and jog on a treadmill is relatively easier compared to familiarizing yourself with a rowing machine.
For commercial gym workouts, you can ideally start with a treadmill, and as you gain more confidence, you can begin to rowing for additional cardio workouts. For cyclists or runners, go for something that matches the form of exercise you want to perform.
Conclusion
Both rowing and treadmill machines can help burn extra calories and improve your cardio. If you have space and budget, the ultimate factor as to which workout equipment can be based on your workout goals. Otherwise, there is no point in having a rowing machine where you find it less useful. The same applies to treadmills.
After comparing the rowing machine vs. treadmill, it is quite apparent that rowing machines are more beneficial compared to a treadmill. They don’t work on both lower and upper body.
You’ll burn more calories with a treadmill, but it’s not recommended if you have arthritis or a joint problem. One of the best things about rowing machines is that they help to enhance the production of endorphins chemicals in the body, which helps fight fatigue and improve your thinking capabilities.