When it comes to choosing between a rowing machine and an elliptical, there are several factors to consider. Both machines offer low-impact workouts that can help improve cardiovascular health, burn calories, and tone muscles. However, they work different muscle groups and have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Here is a quick overview of the comparison – elliptical trainer vs rowing machine:
| Criteria | Rower | Elliptical |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Benefits | Provides a full-body workout, engaging major muscle groups such as legs, back, and core, making it an excellent cardiovascular exercise | Offers a low-impact workout that is easy on the joints and can be adjusted to target specific muscle groups, providing a good cardiovascular workout |
| Calorie Burn | Burns more calories per hour than the elliptical, making it an excellent choice for weight loss and toning | Burns fewer calories per hour than the rower, but still provides a good cardiovascular workout |
| Impact on Joints | Can be hard on the joints, especially the knees, and may not be suitable for people with joint problems | Provides a low-impact workout that is gentle on the joints, making it an excellent choice for people with joint problems |
| Ease of Use | Can be challenging to use, especially for beginners, and requires proper form to avoid injury | Easy to use, with adjustable resistance levels and pre-programmed workouts |
| Space Requirements | Requires a larger space than the elliptical, making it less suitable for small apartments or home gyms | Requires less space than the rower, making it a good choice for small apartments or home gyms |
| Cost | Can be expensive, with high-end models costing thousands of dollars | Can be less expensive than the rower, with high-end models costing around $2,000 |
| Overall Effectiveness | Provides an excellent full-body workout and is a great choice for weight loss and toning, but may not be suitable for people with joint problems | Provides a low-impact workout that is gentle on the joints and is a good choice for people with joint problems, but may not be as effective for weight loss and toning as the rower |
Benefits of rowing machine vs elliptical
Benefits of Rower
Rowing machines offer several benefits for those looking to improve their fitness levels. Here are some of the advantages of using a rower:
Full-body workout: Rowing machines provide a full-body workout that targets multiple muscle groups at once. They work the legs, back, arms, and core, making them an excellent choice for those looking to tone and strengthen their entire body.
Low-impact exercise: Rowing machines are low-impact, meaning they put less stress on your joints than other forms of exercise. This makes them a great option for those with joint pain or injuries.
Cardiovascular workout: Rowing machines provide an excellent cardiovascular workout that can help improve your heart health and endurance. They can also help you burn calories and lose weight.
Improves posture: Rowing machines can help improve your posture by strengthening your back muscles. This can help alleviate back pain and improve your overall posture.
Benefits of Elliptical
Elliptical machines provide a low-impact workout that is easy on the joints. This makes them an excellent choice for people with joint pain or those who are recovering from an injury.
Because elliptical machines are low-impact, they are also a great choice for people who are overweight or obese and looking to lose weight without putting too much strain on their joints.
In addition to being low-impact, elliptical machines provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. They can help improve heart health, increase lung capacity, and boost overall endurance. Elliptical machines are also great for burning calories.
A 125-pound person can burn 270 calories in 30 minutes on an elliptical machine.
Elliptical machines are also versatile. They come with a variety of resistance levels, which allows users to tailor their workouts to their fitness level.
Many elliptical machines also come with pre-programmed workouts that can help users achieve specific fitness goals, such as weight loss or endurance training.
Rowing machine or elliptical for weight loss?
Both rowing machines and ellipticals can be effective for weight loss, but rowing machines tend to burn more calories per hour.
According to an article on Healthline, during an hour’s workout, jogging on an elliptical machine at a moderate pace can burn around 500 calories, whereas on a rowing machine, people tend to burn 500 to 1000 calories (source: Healthline).
However, it ultimately depends on personal preference and which machine you enjoy using more, as consistency with exercise is key for weight loss success.
Muscles Worked
Both rowing machines and ellipticals are excellent for a full-body workout, but they work different muscle groups.
Ellipticals are upright, which means the exerciser is in a standing position, whereas rowing is a seated exercise.
Ellipticals are great for targeting the lower body, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. However, they also work the abdominal muscles and upper body to a lesser extent.
On the other hand, rowing machines are fantastic for working the upper body, including the back, arms, and shoulders. Additionally, they work the lower body, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Rowing is a low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints, making it a great option for those with joint pain or injuries.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Both rowing machines and ellipticals provide excellent cardiovascular benefits, making them great choices for those looking to improve their aerobic capacity, lose body fat, and reduce the risk of a variety of health conditions.
According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, using a rowing machine can significantly improve cardiovascular fitness and decrease body fat percentage in overweight individuals compared to those who did not exercise regularly. The study also found that rowing machines can be a low-impact alternative to running for those with joint pain or injuries.
Ellipticals, on the other hand, provide a low-impact workout that is easier on the joints than running or other high-impact exercises. They can also be used for longer periods of time without causing as much fatigue as other cardiovascular exercises.
Additionally, some ellipticals come equipped with arm handles that provide an upper body workout as well, making them a great choice for those looking to work multiple muscle groups at once.
When it comes to calorie burn, rowing machines may have a slight advantage over ellipticals. According to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, rowing machines can burn more calories per minute than ellipticals, making them a great choice for those looking to maximize their calorie burn during a workout.
Low-Impact Exercise
Both rowing machines and ellipticals provide low-impact workouts, making them ideal for those with joint pain or injuries. Low-impact exercises are also great for beginners who are just starting their fitness journey.
Ellipticals are particularly gentle on the joints as they have a smooth, gliding motion that reduces the impact on the knees, hips, and ankles. This makes them a great option for those with arthritis or other joint problems.
Rowing machines also offer a low-impact workout, but they do require proper form to avoid injury. It’s important to maintain proper posture and technique to avoid straining your back or shoulders. Rowing machines can also provide a full-body workout, engaging your legs, core, back, and arms.
Calorie Burn Comparison
While both machines can help with weight loss goals, the elliptical will burn slightly more calories per hour than a rowing machine. Elliptical trainers tend to burn more calories than rowing machines, although they can be harder to establish good form on.
However, it’s important to note that the number of calories you burn during exercise depends on a variety of factors, including your weight, age, gender, and fitness level.
Additionally, the intensity and duration of your workout will also impact how many calories you burn. Therefore, it’s difficult to make sweeping claims about which machine burns more calories without taking these individual factors into account.
That being said, Top Fitness Mag reports that due to the amount of work that your glutes, core, back, and arms must do, the rowing machine burns about 800 calories per hour.
On the other hand, Boston Rock Gym notes that in terms of calorie-burning, the rowing machine burns 800 calories per hour while the elliptical exercise machine burns around 600 calories per hour.
