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Articles Exercise & Fitness Features to Look For When Buying a Home Treadmill
Articles Exercise & Fitness Features to Look For When Buying a Home Treadmill
| Features to Look For When Buying a Home Treadmill |
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| Written by Robert Jones |
| Wednesday, 10 March 2010 11:00 |
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Treadmills are the aerobic exercise machine of choice for good reasons. They are probably the most enjoyable exercise machines, whether you typically like a slow, comfortable walk or a long run. Regardless of your age or fitness level, treadmills are suited for both intense and mild training, and therefore are one of the most effective pieces of exercise equipment you can buy. A study that compared exercisers who worked out equally hard for the same time on several different types of machines found that they generally burned the most calories on a treadmill. Consumer Reports research has shown that they're less likely to gather dust than other types of exercise machines.
Treadmills are the aerobic exercise machine of choice for good reasons. They are probably the most enjoyable exercise machines, whether you typically like a slow, comfortable walk or a long run. Regardless of your age or fitness level, treadmills are suited for both intense and mild training, and therefore are one of the most effective pieces of exercise equipment you can buy. A study that compared exercisers who worked out equally hard for the same time on several different types of machines found that they generally burned the most calories on a treadmill. Consumer Reports research has shown that they're less likely to gather dust than other types of exercise machines. A treadmill is judged in several ways. Before you buy any treadmill, take it for a test run and check for the following attributes. In addition, look at features, such as whether the treadmill offers preset programs, or is capable of memorizing a program you've created for yourself. Some machines can monitor the user's heart rate and adjust speed and incline to keep heart rate within a specified range. The merit of some of these features, like handrails, will vary with the exerciser's body and motion. Durability is evaluated by using a drum with pneumatic feet attached. The feet on the rotating drum pound the treadmill to simulate use by a 180-pound person jogging 500 miles, the equivalent of a year's worth of use by a recreational runner. Then the treadmill is taken apart and examined for damage. Ergonomics (how the treadmill fits the user) and the machine's ease of use should also be looked at. You should be able to use a good treadmill intuitively, or at least without constantly referring to the owner's manual. The Thickness of the Deck, the platform on which you'll run or walk, is also important. A deck that's at least three-quarters of an inch thick will stand up best to the impact of running. If you're short of space, look for a deck that folds up. Make sure you can lift the deck easily and that the latch holds it securely in place. Look for a deck that can easily fold up for storage with smaller dimensions. You should also find wide foot rails that will enable you to stand on the sides of the deck comfortably while getting started or adjusting your program. You also need to pay attention to the handrails. They should be close enough to reach but they should not get in the way of your swinging arms. They should be cushioned if you plan to hold on while you exercise. Motor location. Make sure the motor housing is out of kicking range as you walk or run on the treadmill. Also, look for a quiet motor. Easy to use controls are also extremely important of course, so you can easily adjust during a workout and you can get started with a session quickly. Useful programs and presets are important so you can enjoy a variety of workouts. You also want convenient displays so you can keep track of your progress and your vitals. Minimum incline should be near zero. Models that don't level off below 2 percent can make the workout more strenuous than you want. This covers all of the basic features and functions that you will be considering when you are ready to purchase a new treadmill for the home. Follow this guide and you'll be good to go with your fantastic new treadmill and fitness program. About the Author: The Nautilus T514 treadmill is an excellent treadmill choice. Visit www.fitnesstreadmillstore.com to review this Nautilus treadmill |