Training Equipment – Treadmills

An exercise treadmill machine is a device designed for walking or running while indoors and without actually leaving the place. The machine consists of a special moving platform that is powered by a flywheel or an electric motor. Because of the opposing rear movement of the belt, you are can run and walk at a determined pace, which means that the speed of the belt is the speed with which you work out.

Controlling and measuring devices can thus be installed on the exercise treadmill machine, thus being able to monitor the number of burnt calories or the amount of effort involved. Besides the motor-powered version, there is also a mechanical exercise treadmill that is powered by the movement of the user who pushes the belt when running or walking. The choice of design depends on the user’s requirements and the location where it is meant to be used.

The motor driven exercise treadmill models are definitely more expensive and a lot heavier too. These are usually found in professional gyms or special physiotherapy clinics. For home use, many people prefer the less costly lightweight alternative of the simple machine version powered by the motion force of the user alone.

In the early days of the invention, the exercise treadmill served for the reformation of incarcerated criminals, at the beginning of the 19th century. Only a century and a half later did the exercise treadmill come in use in hospitals of heart and lung disease. The the popularity of the exercise treadmill and bike increased only after 1968 when they were scientifically proved great for cardiovascular training.

The health benefits resulting from the training with an exercise treadmill are similar to all the other cardio workouts: the alleviation of health problems, a better health condition and an improvement of the heart rate. Constant training with an exercise treadmill enhances physical endurance while eliminating the strain in ankles, knees and lower back.

Limitations and advantages have been equally identified for the use of an exercise treadmill. People who use such a machine for weight loss have the chance of monitoring the heart rate and the amount of calories they burn. Furthermore, the slope and the speed can be adjusted to suit one’s needs. Even so, it is worth mentioning the fact that the use of an exercise treadmill is definitely inferior to running for a number of reasons. The indoor use and the lack of ground contact have their impact on the quality of the activity and the condition of the trainee.