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Check your symptomsDiscover the 6 Incredible Health Benefits of Treadmill Training
February 9, 2022
Running, walking, and other forms of workouts have many health benefits. Well, walking or running on a treadmill is no different!
Updated July 2023
The treadmill has become a popular piece of indoor workout equipment over the years. And there are several reasons for that!
To start, these workout machines allow you to stay fit in the comfort of your home. Not to forget that treadmill training is associated with various health benefits.
But exactly how does a treadmill cardio workout benefit your health? Well, read on to learn some of the health benefits of the treadmill you’ll get from these pieces of workout equipment!
Running on a treadmill daily is an excellent way to improve cardiovascular/ heart health.
To start, the workouts will increase blood circulation in your body and increase your heart’s strength.
As a result, the heart muscles will get more oxygen. Something that will allow them to function harder for longer, giving you more results from each workout.
For that, treadmill workouts are suitable for jogging, especially for people with cardiovascular problems or high cholesterol. On the same note, they can be used to diagnose heart issues like artery blockages and heart disease.
Besides, most doctors recommend treadmill aerobic workouts to people suffering from heart disease.
Interestingly, some machines are fitted with treadmill accessories like heart rate monitors, allowing you to check your heart rate from time to time.
In recent years, different studies have been conducted analyzing the effect of exercise.
According to one of these studies, people who work out regularly have fewer depression days every month.
A different study involved depressed people walking on treadmills for 30-minute sessions every day. After 10 days, the depression symptoms among the participants had reduced significantly.
This clearly shows that treadmill cardio workouts considerably impact our mood and mental health. Experts have even termed this experience as a ‘runner’s high.’
The runner’s high refers to the feeling of exhilaration and euphoria after running. This causes the runner to feel an ecstatic sensation of happiness and joy after the workout session.
Typically, running on a treadmill benefits the brain by helping it release more endorphins.
Also, exercise can cause a naturally occurring process called endocannabinoids in the brain.
Endorphins, usually known as ‘feel-good chemicals,’ make you feel happy. So, when a cardio workout triggers their release in a larger number than usual, they’ll make you feel more comfortable.
That said, treadmill training is a great way to improve your mood and reduce signs of depression, stress, and anxiety.
Running or jogging on a treadmill burns body fat quickly and effectively, making it one of the best ways to lose weight. The best part? It is easier on your joints and knees than running outside.
For those reasons, treadmill training provides better and faster workouts for burning calories than other aerobic exercises.
Besides, it allows you to burn calories even quicker by running faster and longer on the equipment.
According to the CDC, 75 minutes of vigorous- or 150 minutes of moderate workouts on the treadmill per week is enough to help you lose weight. At the same time, another study suggests that treadmill jogging or walking for about 4 miles burns around 400 to 600 calories.
Another benefit of using cardio treadmills for weight loss is that you can increase the efficiency of your calorie burn. Thanks to the machine’s incline & different workout programs like HIIT.
Muscle toning is a type of exercise that focuses on strengthening and firming muscles while also improving overall body composition.
It involves targeted workouts that engage specific muscle groups, increasing their strength and definition. In addition to treadmill training, some popular muscle-toning exercises include:
Resistance Training: Using resistance bands, dumbbells, or weight machines to perform exercises such as bicep curls, squats, and chest presses.
Bodyweight Exercises: Utilizing the weight of your own body to perform exercises like push-ups, lunges, and planks.Pilates: A low-impact exercise method that emphasizes controlled movements, core strength, and muscle tone.
Yoga: A combination of stretching, balance, and strength exercises that promote muscle flexibility and tone.
Interval Training: Incorporating bursts of high-intensity exercises with rest periods helps build cardiovascular endurance and muscle tone.
Remember, muscle toning exercises should be accompanied by a balanced diet and regular cardiovascular activity for the best results.
It’s important to consult a fitness professional before starting any new exercise routine to ensure proper form and technique. Stay consistent, stay motivated, and enjoy the journey to a stronger and more toned physique!
Like most cardio workouts, running provides a full-body treadmill workout since it engages several muscle groups. This increases muscle mass in different parts of your body, thus strengthening the muscles.
Most people assume that treadmill workouts only engage leg muscles. However, treadmill training engages more muscle groups than you can imagine.
For example, running on a treadmill works muscles in your arms, buttocks, back, and abdomen. In addition, the workout engages core muscles and promotes proper posture while running.
Even better, inline workouts tend to stretch out the glutes and calves harder.
It’s suitable for strengthening muscles, including thighs, calves, and glutes.
Regular treadmill training helps control insulin levels, especially in type 2 diabetics. Besides, various articles, including one published in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, suggest that regular workouts reduce blood sugar levels in diabetes.
In another research, over 3000 individuals at high risk of being diabetics walked for 159 min each week for three years.
By the end of the study, every participant had lost 12-15 pounds, while their risk of getting diabetes had reduced to 58%.
These studies show that treadmill training plays a vital role in controlling insulin levels in the body. In essence, insulin is the hormone that is responsible for the conversion of glucose into energy.
Moreover, exercising on a treadmill for 20-minute sessions triggers the liver to release glycogen.
Consequently, muscles use this glucose to generate energy, thus reducing glucose in the body.
Lastly, regular treadmill training can improve insulin sensitivity in non-diabetics and diabetics. By definition, insulin sensitivity is the condition in which the body fails to use insulin properly.
Regular treadmill running helps to build bone density.
Simply put, bone density is the number of minerals in the bones that contribute to their durability and strength.
Therefore, higher bone density means that the bones have more minerals, making them stronger. More importantly, this helps prevent diseases that cause the bones to be brittle, like osteoporosis.
In addition to building bone density, treadmill workouts will improve your joint flexibility. This will help you remain upright and stay mobile, especially as you grow old.
Best of all, improved joint flexibility combats conditions that limit movements like arthritis and degenerative bone diseases.
Besides, jogging on the treadmill is a lower-impact exercise, helping you train on the machine without injuring the joints.
Conclusion
Walking, running, or jogging on a treadmill will improve your health in multiple aspects. Yet these workout machines are safe, convenient, and simple to use.
However, to rip all these health benefits, it’s essential to get yourself various treadmill accessories too. For example, the heart rate monitor will help you keep track of your progress, making it easy to attain your health & fitness goals.
More importantly, treadmills allow you to train regularly since they’re less strenuous on the body than most types of workouts.
They are considered the best workout equipment, especially if you’re starting your health & fitness journey.
More Reading
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on various healthcare conditions to promote quality healthcare.
The advice in our material is not meant to replace a qualified healthcare practitioner’s management of your specific condition.
Don’t hesitate to contact a health practitioner to discuss your condition or reach us directly here.
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