Best Cardio Exercise: Treadmill or Elliptical?

Treadmill or elliptical?

How should I answer this??? I would just like to make it clear that I don't recommend my clients or anyone training on the treadmill or elliptical because there are far better alternatives that will get you better results. But this is a question I hear quite a bit and I am literally biting my tongue trying to answer this...So here it goes.

If you were stuck in a room at gun point and HAD to choose either to train on the treadmill or use the elliptical I would suggest sticking to the treadmill. 

Here's why...

You need to allow your body to move freely and naturally, such as running at the beach. This gives you better proprioception (where your body is in space). The contact to the ground and ability to use your own muscle (strength) to push forward allows you to protect and maintain your joints integrity and produce natural leg strength.

Looking at the treadmill and elliptical, the closest I see to mimicking real running would be the treadmill because you are allowing your extremities to move freely. Again, it's the closet, but not better. In my opinion, the treadmill and elliptical are alternatives to freestyle running when it's snowing or pouring rain outside. Both the treadmill and elliptical use assistance or momentum. The treadmill has the revolving mat which reduces your leg strength to push forward and the elliptical has handles and foot sleds to pull you forward making it easier to break a sweat.

Remember there are FAR better alternatives other than cardio to get whip you into shape; kettlbell swings, metabolic complexes, the list goes on and on.  So the next time you think of doing cardio, do me a favor and think "outside the box!"  

Cheers