Using a treadmill can be a fast, effective, and safe way to get a solid workout and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. But if you’ve never used one at home or at your local gym, you may not be aware of just how beneficial using a treadmill can be for your entire body. In fact, regularly using a treadmill for your workouts can boost your overall mental and physical health—no matter your age or fitness level.
Here, we’re taking a closer look at the many benefits to using a treadmill for your workouts. Whether you’re looking to burn calories, stay active, or simply keep moving throughout your day, a treadmill can offer the perfect workout for any level of health.
How Does a Treadmill Work?
Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is a treadmill and what’s the purpose of these machines? Essentially, a treadmill is a relatively simple exercise device that allows the user to run, walk, or even climb while remaining in place. This makes treadmills ideal for someone looking for a good cardio workout, but they’re also limited on space. Most modern treadmills are small and lightweight, making them easy to set up in your at-home gym, move around, and then store practically anywhere to make working out easy and convenient.
But how do they work exactly? The treadmill uses a conveyor belt that is driven by an electric motor or flywheel. The belt will then move to the rear, which requires the user to walk or run at a speed that matches the movement of the belt (we’ve all seen the funny videos when someone can’t quite keep up with the moving belt). The rate at which the belt moves can be adjusted manually by the user to adapt to their pace and their goals, such as if they’re looking for an intense run or a more mild walk.
This adaptability is one of the main reasons why treadmills continue to be one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment around the world. But as you’ll soon see, it’s not the only reason why people love using treadmills.
5 Benefits of Using a Treadmill for Your Workout
At first glance, many first-time users may wonder why treadmills are so popular to begin with. After all, can’t I just go run outside and get the same—if not better—type of workout? Well, it’s true that running on a path or street outside can offer a great cardiovascular workout, but there are still key advantages to using one of these popular exercise devices.
Some of the top benefits of using treadmill include:
1. Burn calories and lose weight: one of the top reasons so many people use treadmills is for the efficient weight loss workout they can provide. Compared to other types of exercises, running or even just jogging on a treadmill can be one of the most efficient ways to burn calories, and thus, lose unwanted weight. Additionally, they’re versatile enough so that you can ramp it up as needed. Since most treadmills allow you to shift up to run or walk at an angle, this helps you burn even more calories in the same amount of time—helping you conserve your precious time and burn calories.
2. Cardiovascular workout: walking, jogging, or running on a treadmill offers an amazing cardiovascular workout. Aerobic workouts like these can improve your overall cardiovascular health, which is essential these days as heart disease consistently ranks as the leading cause of death in the United States (per the CDC).
3. Less stress on your joints: while running outside can be a great way to get some fresh air, it can also be a toll on your joints and your body overall. Running on hard surfaces, like gravel or pavement, can add undue stress on your joints, bones, and muscles. Over time, this can cause real damage and long-term consequences. That’s why so many individuals, especially older individuals, love using treadmills. The soft surface provides much more support for your joints as you run and dramatically reduce the impact felt by the entire body—making this a much safer workout.
4. Easy to set up and store: let’s be honest, most of us don’t have the space to set up a full at-home gym. But with a treadmill, you can get an amazing workout without taking over your entire home or garage. Most modern treadmills are designed for this convenience as they’re now made smaller and lighter than ever. Additionally, they’re made so that you can easily fold them up and store in your closet or garage. Versatility and adaptability are two of the strongest selling points when it comes to choosing a treadmill for your exercise routine.
5. Boost your mental health: using a treadmill can not only make you look good, but it can make you feel good, too. Studies show that engaging in regular exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise, can also provide a boost to your mood and overall mental health. If you’re feeling down or sluggish, a quick workout can really turn things around and simply make you feel better. When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins, also known as the “feel good” chemicals that help us handle pain and improve our overall mood and sense of happiness. Feel great and look even better at the same time? Talk about a true win-win here.
Conclusion – 5 Benefits of Using a Treadmill
As you can see, there are tons of reasons why treadmills are effective for helping you stay in great shape and to get a solid cardio workout. Compared to other types of exercise, a treadmill really packs in the benefits. Using one regularly can help you lose weight, improve muscle strength, and help you get a cardio workout while relieving stress on your joints. You can even get an under desk treadmill that you can easily use while working. Believe it or not, but a run on a treadmill can even boost your mood and mental health. With so many clear benefits, the only remaining question becomes why don’t you have one at your home yet?
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.