Treadmills for exercise, fitness and Health
Did you know that treadmills were once a form of punishment? Well how times have changed. Today the Treadmill is probably one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment in fitness clubs and even in peoples homes.
A treadmill gives you the same workout that you woudl get as running the roads but in the comnformatble surroundings of a fitness club or your own home.
so lets have a look at a little of the history of the Treadmill , what kinds of machines there are and how they can help you with your exercise regime.
What is a treadmill?
A Treadmill is a piece of sporting fitness equipment that allows you to run or walk while effectively staying in the same place. Orignially the word was used to describe the kinds of machines that were used to move water or to power other things in pre-industrial times when animals or humans woudl be inside a sort of wheel machine and as they walked this would turn the wheel to provide power.
How do Treadmills work?
Treadmills can either be passive or active in the way that they operate. The ones that operate passively tend to be cheaper than the ones that use an actively powered system.
The general arrangement for modern sports treadmills is a belt system (which operates in a loop and which the runner runs on top of. In design the treadmill is not dissimilar therefore to a conveyor belt.
The belt runs at the same speed as the person runs and so the person using the treadmill equipment stays in the same place while running. The more expensive versions usually have a motor-driven belt. Simpler versions which are often lighter and cheaper are usually passive. These move using the power of the runner or walker pushing the belt with their feet, and they are set up so that they give just sufficient resistance to this motion.
The general arrangement for modern sports treadmills is a belt system (which operates in a loop and which the runner runs on top of. In design the treadmill is not dissimilar therefore to a conveyor belt.
The belt runs at the same speed as the person runs and so the person using the treadmill equipment stays in the same place while running. The more expensive versions usually have a motor-driven belt. Simpler versions which are often lighter and cheaper are usually passive. These move using the power of the runner or walker pushing the belt with their feet, and they are set up so that they give just sufficient resistance to this motion.
Why use a treadmill?
So why use a treadmill? Whay not just run outside?
Because you are running directly on the treadmill the treadmill can be set up to directly monitor your running speed, time and the energy (calories) you are using in your exercise.
So treadmills can have step count monitors, heart rate monitors and tell you the amount of calories you have expended.
If you are using the treadmill at home this can avoid the money and time cost of going to a gym and you can do other things while exercising for example watch television or even read.
Some people , particularly as they start to get fit may be embarassed or even fearful of running outdoors.
Relying on outdoor running means that you are also at the mercy of unfavourable weather conditions and sometimes dangerous uneven road surfaces.
Most treadmills have some form of shock absorbtion which softens the impact of running on the joints. As a result it is likely that the user will experience less strain on ankles, knees and lower back than a road runner.
Running on a treadmill regularly will of course increases endurance. This can be more difficult to achieve with road running because of the vagaries of the weather etc.
With a treadmill you can set up specific conditions, speeds and gradients for your run and you have control over these factors.
Because you are running directly on the treadmill the treadmill can be set up to directly monitor your running speed, time and the energy (calories) you are using in your exercise.
So treadmills can have step count monitors, heart rate monitors and tell you the amount of calories you have expended.
If you are using the treadmill at home this can avoid the money and time cost of going to a gym and you can do other things while exercising for example watch television or even read.
Some people , particularly as they start to get fit may be embarassed or even fearful of running outdoors.
Relying on outdoor running means that you are also at the mercy of unfavourable weather conditions and sometimes dangerous uneven road surfaces.
Most treadmills have some form of shock absorbtion which softens the impact of running on the joints. As a result it is likely that the user will experience less strain on ankles, knees and lower back than a road runner.
Running on a treadmill regularly will of course increases endurance. This can be more difficult to achieve with road running because of the vagaries of the weather etc.
With a treadmill you can set up specific conditions, speeds and gradients for your run and you have control over these factors.
Any disadvantages to using a treadmill?
Like anything in life there are some potential downsides to using a treadmill.
Unlike road running the scenery is unvarying so some people may find treadmill running more boring - although you can reduce this by listening to music , watching the TV or reading.
There is of course the cost of purchasing the equipment - which can vary significantly depending on the features of the machine.
For powered Treadmills there is of course the cost of the electricity although this shoudl not be great.
A treadmill will of course takes up space in your home - although many modern treadmills have a space saving fold away design.
Finally as with all sports and health equipment, it is vital that the equipment is set up, maintained and used properly or the result may be injury. It is also important to have a paced exercise regime and not to exercise excessively or there can, as with all forms of exerciose be an increased risk of heart attack.
Unlike road running the scenery is unvarying so some people may find treadmill running more boring - although you can reduce this by listening to music , watching the TV or reading.
There is of course the cost of purchasing the equipment - which can vary significantly depending on the features of the machine.
For powered Treadmills there is of course the cost of the electricity although this shoudl not be great.
A treadmill will of course takes up space in your home - although many modern treadmills have a space saving fold away design.
Finally as with all sports and health equipment, it is vital that the equipment is set up, maintained and used properly or the result may be injury. It is also important to have a paced exercise regime and not to exercise excessively or there can, as with all forms of exerciose be an increased risk of heart attack.
Bowflex treadmills
Bowflex make excellent treadmills. They are not the most expensive on the market bu they do offer a range of useful features.
Check out Bowflex Treadmill suppliers in the UK
Bowflex make three models; the 3, 5 and 7 Series of which the Bowflex 7 Series treadmill is the most outstanding.
The Bowflex 7 Series seems to be aimed at the serious treadmill user and has a 3 hp continuous duty motor. The belt is 2-ply which is far better than the 1-ply belt in the 3 or 5 series.
With treadmills you get what you pay for and the durability of your treadmill depends not only on how much you use it but also the quality and power of the motor, the quality of the belt and the quality of the rollers.
The 7 Series has commercial grade 2.5" rollers which match the excellent quality of the motor and belt.
The Bowflex 7 Series has telemetric heart rate control that allows the machine speed to automatically adjust to your heart rate.
Other features of the Bowflex 7 series treadmills are the goood size belt at 20" x 60". There's also 3-speed fan to keep you cool and Quick incline keys and quick speed keys.
The Bowflex 7 includes 15 programs, 2 HRC, 2 user-defined and a BMI test.
The Bowflex feels very solid in use, and has an easy to use control panel.
It usually comes with a 10-year motor, 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty.
All in all the Bowflex 7 series is a highly recommended treadmill.
Check out Bowflex Treadmill suppliers in the UK
Bowflex make three models; the 3, 5 and 7 Series of which the Bowflex 7 Series treadmill is the most outstanding.
The Bowflex 7 Series seems to be aimed at the serious treadmill user and has a 3 hp continuous duty motor. The belt is 2-ply which is far better than the 1-ply belt in the 3 or 5 series.
With treadmills you get what you pay for and the durability of your treadmill depends not only on how much you use it but also the quality and power of the motor, the quality of the belt and the quality of the rollers.
The 7 Series has commercial grade 2.5" rollers which match the excellent quality of the motor and belt.
The Bowflex 7 Series has telemetric heart rate control that allows the machine speed to automatically adjust to your heart rate.
Other features of the Bowflex 7 series treadmills are the goood size belt at 20" x 60". There's also 3-speed fan to keep you cool and Quick incline keys and quick speed keys.
The Bowflex 7 includes 15 programs, 2 HRC, 2 user-defined and a BMI test.
The Bowflex feels very solid in use, and has an easy to use control panel.
It usually comes with a 10-year motor, 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty.
All in all the Bowflex 7 series is a highly recommended treadmill.
