Millions of people take time out of their day to walk, jog or run on a treadmill. After all, the classic workout incorporates lifting weights for 30 minutes, then jumping on the treadmill for 30 minutes. That 1 hour will make you feel 5 years younger! Commercial health clubs and home gyms can not be complete without a gym grade, health club quality treadmill. One of the many great things about treadmills, is that they are beneficial for everyone from teenagers, to senior citizens and professional athletes to the disabled. Treadmill usage is essential for all people that want to burn calories, lose weight, gain speed, and build endurance. What were the streets like when there were no treadmills? How exactly did the treadmill develop?

Sparked by the necessity for a portable and continual power supply, treadmills were initially developed to generate consistent power, rather than help people lose fat and burn calories. Originating as agricultural machines, designed to power butter churns, water pumps and spinning wheels, treadmills have come a long way since their draconian days when they were used by horses, sheep, dogs and mules to help farmers produce power. It wasn’t until the 20th century, in the year 1952, that the University of Washington Dr. Robert Bruce, who was believed by many to be the father of exercise cardiology, along with his colleague, and fellow UW employee Wayne Quinton, developed the first medical treadmill, specifically aiming to study, treat and diagnose heart and lung disease. When discussing the origins of the treadmill, it helps to understand its etymology. The word “Tread” refers to a person or animal “treading” in place, while the word “Mill”, refers to a machine for grinding. Coming a long way from being used for the same purpose of a windmill, the treadmills of today are great tools for helping people to decrease their body fat percentage, increase flexibility, lose weight, build endurance, as well as countless other benefits associated with treadmill usage.

Once the 1960′s came along, the fitness equipment industry emerged and the treadmill boom took effect. No longer were treadmills only owned and operated by doctors, inventors and fitness gurus, ordinary Americans were intrigued by the technological features and health benefits associated with treadmills. Businessman and capitalists quickly realized the popularity of treadmills and decided that the commercial production of treadmills, both residential and gym (health club quality), would be a smart business move. While the fitness equipment industry blossomed, treadmills were pushed by fitness equipment manufacturers such as Tunturi (a bicycle making business based out of Finland) & Aerobics Inc (American), developed several different models of treadmills. Even NASA (National Aeronautics Space Association) jumped on the treadmill bandwagon as NASA used treadmills to train astronauts and get them in shape for long orbits in space.

With features including user-friendly interactive workout programming, wireless heart rate controls, entertainment centers with TV, DVD, Internet & iPod functions, and an aesthetic appeal that resembles modern art more than draconian machinery, treadmills have come a long way since their nineteenth century inception. Fitness equipment companies such as Precor, Life Fitness, Star Trac, StairMaster and Body-Solid, have all contributed significantly to the evolution of the treadmill, evidenced by the amount of money, time, and analysis these fitness equipment brands have invested.

If you are interested in purchasing a treadmill, let us educate you on the different parts and controls of home and commercial treadmills. Treadmill parts and products include the running belt, motor controllers, treadmill motors, running deck, frame, treadmill rollers, incline wheels, drive belts, tension motors, braking mechanisms and electronic consoles. In order to simplify things for you, make sure you buy a treadmill that has a solid steel frame, a speed motor that has at least 2.0HP, a running deck that is at least 18″W x 58″L, and an iron-clad warranty that backs up all of these treadmill parts in writing. One good thing about a saturated fitness equipment industry is that you get the benefit of having a wide selection of treadmills to chose from. Whether you are a novice or an expert, there is no benefit in buying a treadmill that is not built well. Always do your homework when it comes to buying fitness equipment such as treadmills in order to prevent yourself from not getting full value for your money.

Often looked past, is the suspension system and the suspension on a treadmill is key toward keeping its users in good health. What good is running miles and miles, while burning tons of calories, just to wake up the next morning, with severe aches and pains, because the suspension on the treadmill resembled more of an asphalt road than a grass field. Certain treadmill features come to mind when considering purchasing a treadmill and many of us look right past the suspension, while analyzing the speed, power incline, exercise programs, fitness tests and its cosmetic appearance.

People love to run in the morning, afternoon, put a reflector on and run at night. Run for fun. Running has an interesting way of making us feel healthier mentally and physically speaking. We sleep better, feel lighter, have more stamina, look healthier and eat more balanced diets when running and daily exercise are like second nature and intrinsic to our everyday lives. Other pieces of fitness equipment such as stair climbers, rowing machines and elliptical trainers are all effective cardiovascular training machines, however, treadmills give us the ability to run for as long, and as fast as possible, while allowing users to truly mimic their natural running and walking motions.

As you probably already know, aerobic exercise such as walking helps you control your weight. But did you also know that just one session of walking you can lower your blood sugar by 20 to 30%? Diabetic or not, many people these days are coming closer and closer to having high blood sugar levels, by a combination of not eating healthy and not exercising. Tips for keeping your blood sugars in a good range while exercising are to eat something 30 minutes before your walk (so your numbers don’t drop to low with your increased metabolism), check you blood sugar levels before and after every walk (to prevent drops), and walk at least every other day. One a routine habit is introduced to your system, your sugar levels will start to stay at a healthy level. Just remember, once you take just one day off, it can take months to get back on the saddle!