How To Use a Treadmill Effectively

Treadmills are one of the most common pieces of home exercise equipment, thanks to their accessibility and ease of use. However, this doesn’t mean it’s simple to master the treadmill. If you’ve been eyeing up any of our home treadmills for sale, allow us to teach you how to use a treadmill effectively so you can get the most out of your investment.

Warm Up

With how easy it is to just jump on the treadmill and get to work, many people forget that it’s still important to warm up before you really get going. Warming up beforehand will start to increase your heart rate, send oxygen to your muscles, and increase your blood flow. This all culminates in better performance and decreases the likelihood of injury from suddenly forcing your body into strenuous activity. Some simple warm-ups include starting with a five-minute walk or easy jog before cranking up the speed.

Use an Incline

Take the time to test and experiment with the many features that modern treadmills offer. A beneficial choice, for instance, is to make use of an incline to further challenge yourself and add variation to your exercise rather than simply running on a flat surface the entire time. Not only does this add an extra challenge, but it prevents your body from getting too used to the exercise and finding ways to be more efficient, hindering your results because your body isn’t working as hard.

Don’t Hold the Handrail

It’s tempting, and many people hold it, but a key part of learning how to use a treadmill effectively is keeping yourself from holding onto the handrails. Those handrails are only there to help you get on and off the treadmill safely, and holding them during your exercise will hinder your form by making you hunch over. In some cases, doing so could even lead to neck, shoulder, and back pain.

Don’t Watch the Console

Similarly, don’t look down at the console the entire time. Looking downward can also cause you to hunch over or not realize if your running form is off. Additionally, a watched clock is always the slowest, which can make your workout feel agonizingly slow as you’re counting down the seconds. Keep your gaze pointed straight ahead, and just enjoy the jog.

Perfect Your Stride

Running on a treadmill can feel strange at first. Running in place can be a bit confusing to your brain and may make you overly cautious to the point that you’re sabotaging your exercise routine. Endeavor to run with your natural gait and avoid taking short, choppy strides. If you’re having trouble getting your stride to feel normal, use slower speeds until you get the hang of things.