Treadmill: advantages and disadvantages

A treadmill is a sports equipment for jogging or walking in one place. Designed for indoor installation (sports hall, in the house or in the apartment). The equipment is in demand among athletes who, for whatever reason, cannot (or do not want to) engage in classic jogging in nature.

Treadmill: historical background

 

The first mention that can be found in the literature about running equipment is dated 1875. The simulator was used in industry to propel rotating mechanisms. For example, water wheels, spinning wheels or oil mills. The track was driven by people or animals.

And only in 1952, the technologists from the Medical University of Washington came up with the idea to use a transport tape to study cardiac diseases. A treadmill was used to create a stress test. But, literally in 2-3 years, physiotherapists found that the equipment helps to restore joints and muscles to people with various diseases, or after injuries.

 

Treadmill Benefits

 

Definitely, without leaving a cozy home, jogging is very convenient. There are no annoying natural factors (dust, rain, wind) and accompanying views of strangers. The benefits include:

 

• Individual settings for running (set the speed, difficulty of the route, project the natural features of the terrain (change of angle).
• The ability to escape from running - turn on the TV, or music.
• Track your workout progress (distance, heart rate, calories, speed).
• Saving the pace of running - in the absence of obstacles in front, it is very convenient to run in a given mode, without distraction.

 

Disadvantages of treadmills

 

The most unpleasant moment for any runner is the danger that awaits the user with the slightest distraction from the equipment. Any careless movement, a step to the side or a stop, will lead to an inevitable fall. Even if the key is used to quickly stop the blade. With the track, in the United States, thousands of accidents are associated, where adults and children received physical injuries of varying degrees. The disadvantages also include:

 

• Large dimensions of the structure - the track takes up space in the living room.
• High power consumption and high maintenance costs.
• After running on the tracks, it is difficult to run outdoors in rough terrain.
• The simulator quickly fades away if there is no desired quick result.
• When using running programs, it is necessary that the hands always touch the handles with a heart rate monitor. An exception is a wireless heart rate monitor, which is found only on expensive devices.

 

How to choose a treadmill

 

Having an almost identical mechanism, equipment from different brands can differ dramatically in functionality. To make it easier for the buyer to navigate, it is better to start with the basic mechanisms:

 

• Engine. Responsible for the rotation of the canvas. Measured in horsepower. It has 3 basic characteristics: ultimate, intermediate and continuous power. When buying, you should always focus on long-term power - this is when the engine retains the ability to rotate the canvas under load for a long time.
• Soundboard. The frame that holds the running belt. In addition to strength, it has an important technical characteristic - depreciation. The better the shock absorber works, the longer the treadmill can work under load without repair. Decks are one-sided and two-sided.
• Tape (running belt). It is selected according to the width and quality of the material. It is considered a consumable and requires replacement when a visible delamination of the working surface appears. If the tape is not replaced in time, the pile can get into the rotating mechanisms of the engine and block the operation of the equipment.
• Control Panel. Equipment with a built-in computer. Having many buttons on the panel, you can easily select a training program, or set a mode for running. For effective training, the panel should be supplemented with handles with a built-in heart rate monitor. Be sure to adjust the speed of rotation of the canvas and the angle of inclination. The more programs in the control unit, the more flexible the training.

 

Treadmill Selection: What to Look For

 

First of all, a brand is always chosen. Since durability and other operational properties directly depend on the manufacturer. Given that treadmills often break, it’s best to buy a treadmill at a nearby store that provides certified products. Technical specialists, supplies and spare parts must be present at the seller.

The smooth acceleration and deceleration of the canvas are important selection criteria. Since engine survivability depends on them. There should not be any sudden jumps. Also, under the permissible load, the speed should not decrease - this is the first indicator that a low-quality motor is used. And yet, the treadmill should not make much noise. In addition to the annoying sound, this indicates a poor-quality assembly of the rubbing mechanisms.