Choosing a Treadmill
By Kay Cross, MEd, CSCS
You have just decided a good electric treadmill is exactly what you need to
maintain your commitment to regular aerobic exercise. But you find there are
dozens of different treadmills, ranging in price from $399 to over $3,000. What
accounts for the huge difference in price? What do you look for when buying?
Don't Leave Home . . .
First, before going anywhere, decide where you will put your new treadmill--and
measure the space. You'll need some free space around the machine itself--and
some head room if you're going to get a machine that inclines.
Second, dress in loose, comfortable clothing and workout shoes. You'll want to
try out several machines before you buy. Finally, head off to a specialty
fitness retail store.
Construction
The deciding factor in the life of a treadmill is the motor. If you want your
treadmill to last, look for the larger, heavier motors.
"Horsepower" is applied to two different ratings--"peak duty
rating" and "continuous duty rating." The peak duty rating is
advertised on a treadmill tag. The continuous duty rating is stamped directly on
the motor and is the rating that determines its quality and duration.
In general, the larger and heavier the motor is, the cooler it will run and the
longer it will last. Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter recommends purchasing
a machine with at least 1.5 continuous duty horsepower--higher if you weigh more
than 185 pounds or plan to run on the treadmill. (But be sure to check the
voltage. Some treadmills with heavy motors are 220, which won't work in most
homes.)
The thickness of the walking deck and the size of the walking track should also
be high on your list of priorities. The thickness of the deck affects the
comfort of the legs and feet with prolonged use. Choose a treadmill that has a
deck thickness of at least 3/4 inch, or one inch if you plan to do both walking
and jogging.
The walking track needs enough length (at least 48 inches) and width (at least
17 inches) for you to walk comfortably without stepping off the track. If you
plan to run on your new treadmill, you may want a longer track. Test it while
you are in the store.
The "buzz" feature these days is definitely shock absorption. To
provide effective cushioning for the legs, feet and back, the treadmill's
suspension must be directly under the walking deck. (Some treadmills may have
"shock absorbers" on the legs of the treadmill so you can see the
frame bounce while you are walking. This is not effective shock absorption!) The
padding can be made of foam or rubber. Foam is softer and more compressible than
rubber, but requires more time to return to its original thickness after impact.
Rubber instantly recovers to full thickness and is better able to maintain its
energy absorption level. Again, test the machine yourself.
"Perks"
After you've checked out the physical construction, you can look at a
treadmill's electronic board. Here's where you can economize, if necessary. The
less expensive treadmills have the basics: speed, distance, incline, time and
calories. The more expensive treadmills also have a range of special preset
exercise programs that automatically alter speed and incline, varying
high-intensity effort with lower-intensity effort. Some treadmills even measure
your heart rate! Ask yourself, will electronic programs and feedback motivate
you to keep exercising? If not, and/or you're on a limited budget, you can buy a
less expensive machine and a separate heart rate monitor, and develop your own
programs.
Service and Warranties
Ask the dealer about delivery and setup. Sometimes this is included in the
price--and other times, it's not. Also, check out the service and warranty
policies.
The minimum warranty on a fairly good treadmill is 90 days parts and service.
The better treadmills will carry a three-year warranty on the motor and two
years on the drive train. As for who will be responsible for servicing a
treadmill when it has problems--the store you purchased it from. So if the store
offers a good guarantee, chances are the machine won't need servicing very
often!
If you choose a quality electric treadmill, it will last for years and provide
great versatility for your cardiovascular program. Find a good specialty
equipment store in your area that can help you find the treadmill you need. And
then by all means, use it!
* Be sure to check with your health care professional before making any
changes in your activity habits.
Chad Tackett, the President of Global Health and Fitness (GHF), has degrees in
Exercise and Heath Science and Nutrition, is a Certified Personal Trainer, and
is a regular guest lecturer to both professional and lay audiences on the
principles of effective exercise and good nutrition. Visit GHF (http://www.global-fitness.com)
and you'll find easy to follow fitness recommendations, hundreds of exercise
instructions and video demonstrations, customized programs, healthy recipes and
meal plans, a free nutrition analysis, health club and personal trainer
directories, and much more!