Treadmill Basics
Why Treadmills?
When you compare the different equipments for
exercising, you find that you can burn 500 calories per hour on the
exercise bike, whereas with the average medium-intensity treadmill
workout, you can burn 700 calories per hour. One reason for this
difference is the amount of muscle mass that is used in both exercises.
Apparently, when you walk or run on a treadmill, you use more muscles
than you do on a bike, stationary or otherwise.
Burning calories is the main benefit of treadmill workout. However, it
is not the only reason why people consider this type of exercise. For
people with certain health conditions, engaging in vigorous physical
activity can only be detrimental to their health. People with
osteoporosis, hypertension, and back pain are recommended to do no more
than walking when they exercise. It is done to avoid
any complications which may arise when such people may overexert themselves. The
treadmill, therefore, provides them an exciting alternative to do just
plain walking outside or inside their home.
A treadmill can add consistency to your walking workout. Most models have in-built
programming that allows you to maintain speed and intensity throughout
your entire workout. They also have incline device that would let you
control the inclination of your walk, exactly as though you are walking
up or down hill.
According to a research conducted by the Harvard
Medical School, walking for 45 minutes, five times a week can cut your
chances of getting a flu or cold to half. But if the weather condition
is bad, for example, if it is raining, or it is very windy, you can’t
really walk, can you? That is when a treadmill seems to be such a great
exercise equipment to have.
Furthermore, the treadmill can be used by anyone – young, old, male,
female, pregnant…. Let’s take the case of pregnant women. While some
aerobic activities can be risky during pregnancy, walking is actually
beneficial to both the child and the mother. Hormonal changes caused by
pregnancy can loosen ligaments. In order to tone down muscles and
strengthen the joints that support the growing baby, walking is
recommended for pregnant women. For doing that what could be better than
a treadmill.
However beneficial running and sunlight might be, gravity can have very nasty effects. The treadmill,
therefore, can help prevent those injuries that could happen when you
run outside on uneven or wet ground. A treadmill with good cushioning on
the belt will help support each foot-strike you make, making your
running or walking easier and safer.
Finally, to get in to a good shape with a healthy heart, walking or jogging on a treadmill will do
the trick. It improves muscle tone not just in your legs, but all over
your body. Strengthened muscles mean the heart can pump more oxygen-rich
blood with each step you take. So, watch the step you take!