Treadmill. Comparison of treadmill with running and…

Running droshky

Nowadays, treadmills are found not only in gyms, but also in medical, educational institutions and even at home.

How did the treadmill appear?

It turns out that its prototype was originally a huge wheel driven by walking people. Such wheels were often used in mills, spinning mills, and for drawing water. By the way, the name applied in English to the treadmill “treadmill” originally meant that same “agricultural” wheel – a treadmill. In 1818, the oldest device was given new life as a “stepping track” in British prisons. In 1875, the treadmill appeared in the form of a looped conveyor belt. And in 1952, such a conveyor belt marked the beginning of the emergence of treadmills as exercise equipment.

What is the essence of a treadmill?

Today, there are 2 main types of treadmills: mechanical (the track belt moves due to pushes from the legs) and electric (driven by an electric motor).

As has already become clear from history, the treadmill is, first of all, a very effective cardio trainer. At the same time, it also helps:

strengthen the muscles of the back, abdomen and, of course, legs.
lose excess weight. An hour of intense running burns up to 750 kcal.
develop the body’s endurance, which means increase energy and improve performance.

Nowadays treadmills are equipped with a function for counting heart rate and calories burned. They are also equipped with computer programs that regulate speed, distance length, and even “build” obstacles in the form of hilly terrain.

But what about the usual running in nature?It takes place, if only because it has a number of differences from a treadmill: step size, different biomechanics of pushing off the foot and the body’s adaptation to acceleration, different intensity of exercise due to uneven surfaces and weather conditions, running in nature is somewhat harder to do, but also more enjoyable due to the diversity of the landscape.

Comparison of a treadmill, running outside and orbitrek

All three types of activities undoubtedly have their pros and cons.This table will help you determine them:

Comparative characteristics	Treadmill	Outdoor running	Orbitrek (ellipsoid)
Cardio	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆
Load on the knee joint and ligaments	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★☆☆☆☆
Feeling of overall load	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆
Combining load types	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★
Resistance adjustment	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★
Change speed, dynamism	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆
Using the back muscles	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Using arm muscles	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆
Accounting for biomechanics	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
Upward movement	✓	✓	✓ (in expensive models)
Running with a load	–	✓	✓
Reverse	–	✓	✓
Changing step length	only in expensive models	✓	only in expensive models
Approximate energy consumption (kcal/hour)	800	1000	600
Weight limit	150-180	180	150
Injury hazard	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★☆☆☆☆
Contraindications	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★☆☆☆☆

Choosing a treadmill for training at home:

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