What kind of treadmills are there and what to choose for your type of workout?

Every gym-goer has seen a regular treadmill, and it’s probably one of the most popular cardio machines. However, if you take a closer look at your fitness club, you’ll find another interesting option – the curved treadmill. It’s also called a mechanical, or crawler. These machines have little in common with electric ones, except for the main type of exercise – walking or running. Today let’s find out what are the advantages of different equipment and how to exercise on them.

top trainer of the World Class fitness studio chain

“Each type of exercise equipment has its own advantages and disadvantages, works on a different principle. Mechanical – the simplest, they are driven by the efforts of the athlete. The electric track is equipped with a motor that drives the canvas in motion”.

Mechanical track: how to train on it?

The rules of operation are very simple – you get up and run. But not everyone can do it the first time. Mechanical treadmill is a simulator, the canvas of which sets in motion the running of the trainee. Such a system adjusts the tension of the web, creating resistance. This allows you to burn more calories during training, expending energy and reducing weight. The athlete adjusts the speed of movement himself, by his own efforts.

To set in motion such a track, you just need to start walking, nothing complicated. But then the difficulties begin. At first it will be difficult to catch the balance and feel confident on such a track, because the simulator itself will accelerate with you. So be focused and hold on to the handles to avoid falling. And then – it’s a matter of habit, in a few tries you will learn to keep your balance.

Advantages

1. Running on such a track is very comfortable due to the smoothness of running and high quality of shock absorption of the canvas.
2. You have to make your own efforts to move the machine, which implies a greater load than on a classic track.
3. Does not require connection to the network. If you have an exercise machine at home, with the onset of the summer season you can move it to your summer cottage and train there.

Electric treadmill: how to train on it?

Let’s move on to a more familiar option. And although most people are aware of it, we will once again remind you what it is. Electric treadmills are equipped with electric motors that drive the canvas. The athlete does not have to make an effort to maintain the chosen pace, the machine does it for him.

The track itself is much more technically advanced than a mechanical one. It has a lot of additional functions, such as adjusting the angle of inclination, increasing and decreasing the speed, setting the mode and selecting a program. And, of course, you can stop or pause the projectile with one button, while on a mechanical track you will have to gradually slow down the pace.

Ekaterina Kravchenko: On this track you just need to choose the optimal speed and have time to move your feet, nothing complicated.

Advantages

1. Availability of various programs and modes.
2. Reduced load on the knees and joints.
3. The trainer allows you to track biometric parameters, current speed.
4. The movement of the cloth is smooth, which increases the effectiveness of anaerobic training.
5. The width of the canvas is larger, respectively, the machine can be used by people of different builds.

Which treadmill is better?

The classification is sorted out, but one question remains unanswered. Which treadmill is better? Here it is important to understand that, in principle, everyone can train on any track. But if there are contraindications to running, it is better to consult a doctor.

It all depends on the goals you set for yourself. Electric track is suitable for those who want to diversify their cardio training, because it has built-in programs. For example, for fat burning or interval training. It’s a great option if you work out in the gym. This track has a lot of possibilities, you can customize it for you. But if we are talking about the option for home, the electric track will be too bulky for the apartment.

But the mechanical one is ideal for home use, as it takes up less space. This is not the only plus – it also costs many times cheaper, which is always nice. The mechanical version will help you learn to keep your balance and evenly increase and decrease the speed of running.

Rule to follow in training

This rule applies to all types of treadmills, because this is a traumatizing exercise machine. Choose the pace wisely, build it up gradually. If you immediately set a high speed, there will be a risk of falling.

Those who have not previously trained on these equipment, we advise you to choose the minimum speed and do not hesitate to hold on to the handles during the first sessions. Over time, you will get used to the operation of the track and feel more confident.