A treadmill is opted by many for it being user-friendly and affordable. It lets you receive the right amount of cardio in the convenience of your home.They provide the ease of indoor exercise with the bonus of tracking your progress, similar to smart gym cycles replicating outdoor cycling indoors.
Nonetheless, without some guidance, picking up bad habits or making little mistakes that might hinder your workout or cause injury can be easy. Thus, you need to make sure you’re familiar with the common treadmill errors to steer clear of to maximise your workout efficiency.
Mistakes to Avoid
It’s crucial to avoid common mistakes to ensure your treadmill workouts are as effective as possible.. In this section, we will highlight the top five treadmill mistakes to steer clear of:
- Skipping Warm-ups
You just wish to run, you are in a rush, so you do not warm up. A big no-no. Skipping warm-ups increases the risk of straining tendons or pulling muscles. Warming up before running boosts the elasticity of connective tissues, warms up the glutes, hip flexors, hamstrings, and gradually raises your heart rate. A three to five-minute jog or walk gets your body moving and blood warm. Butt kick and high knees for around 30 seconds each will also warm up your leg muscles, priming the body for an effective run.
- Holding Onto the Treadmill
Many people make the prevalent mistake of using treadmills’ incline features. Walking or running on an incline burns more calories since you’re lifting your body weight uphill. However, holding onto the treadmill rails diminishes the effectiveness of your workout by providing additional support.
- Looking Down As You Walk on the Treadmill
Another common mistake is looking down while walking or running on the treadmill. If you’re new to treadmill workouts, this might be subconscious or due to feeling off-balance. However, looking down worsens the situation. It disrupts your posture, straining your neck and shoulders. This compromised posture can amplify the sensation of imbalance, leading you to grip the treadmill handles even more.
- Wearing the Wrong Shoes
Another common mistake doesn’t directly involve the treadmill but the footwear used. Running shoes are essential as they offer ample support and snug toe boxes, minimising the risk of injury. The right pair of shoes can prevent knee and hip pain and Achilles tendinitis. Moreover, proper running shoes can enhance performance by reducing discomfort and soreness, enabling you to achieve your fitness goals more effectively. So, choose your shoes wisely before hopping on the treadmill.
- Not Using Your Treadmill’s Features
To maximise the effectiveness of your treadmill workout and keep it engaging, take advantage of the preprogrammed features available on modern treadmills for home or gym. These features offer various routes with inclines and interval training, allowing you to push yourself for better results. Also, these diverse routes target different muscle groups, keeping your workout engaging and more effective compared to a routine walk around the neighbourhood.
The Bottom Line
Conquer those cardio goals and leave treadmill mishaps in the dust! By avoiding these top 5 mistakes, you’ll transform your treadmill sessions into maximised workouts that deliver serious results. So lace up your shoes, hit the start button, and get ready to experience the full potential of this powerful fitness tool – one confident stride at a time. Happy running (or walking)! Along with the above mentioned tips for use of treadmill, we also cover Adaptive Fitness Training for specially abled.
