A Guide for Treadmills - Understanding the Technical Aspects

In this modern world, most of us work it the comfort of our office desk and, over time, we develop various health issues due to minimal amount of exercise. Hence, it is important to incorporate a workout regime to our daily routine and starting off with a treadmill would be an ideal decision to make for some great cardio and endurance workout. But being unaware of the technical aspects of a treadmill and the plethora of options available in the market can make the process of choosing a good one a tedious job. Hence here is a guide for treadmills – understanding the technical aspects.

Horsepower is the keyA 2.0 HP engine would be an ideal choice no matter whether your activity is running, jogging or walking. But anything less than 1.5 HP wouldn’t last longer and would call for a repair every now and then. The dealers may try to attract you by using the terms ‘peak horsepower’ or ‘treadmill duty’ which you should simply ignore and should look for the ‘continuous duty’ horsepower stamp on the DC motor, so that the treadmill delivers a steady 2 HP for 24 hours motor usage.

Relation between Motor Torque and body weightThe motor torque rotates the shaft which in turn moves against the body weight. To put it into simpler words, the higher the body weight, the higher the motor torque should be. Hence, it is important to choose a treadmill of higher motor torque to keep up with the weight of the human body. Another point to be noted is that the number of rounds per second should be less. You will not find any fault when the treadmill runs at a high speed but when it comes to lower speed the greater rounds per second will damage the motor.

Treadmill Belt and DeckIf you are choosing the treadmill for a good run then the belt must be 18 to 22 inches wide to secure the safety of the runner. For long walks you must opt for a treadmill that has a belt of 50-54 inches wide. A normal treadmill deck should possess 40% shock absorption which is sufficient to decrease the strain on the joints and ankles. But if you are someone who is suffering from serious joint issues then you can opt for padded and pre-treated decks for your safety.

Roller Width and speedIt is basic science that if the treadmill roller is wider, then the surface area will also be more, resulting in lesser tension on the belt. If the roller is narrow, then there will be increased pressure on the belt causing damage to the machine. Steel solid rollers will serve you better as compared to hollow aluminum ones. Talking about the speed, it differs based on the usage whether it is for running, jogging or walking. A speed ranging from 0 to 12 mph is best suited for running and jogging while a speed of 0 to 6 mph is sufficient for a good walk. It is also important to be aware of the fact that if the treadmill is always used at its highest speed available, chances of damage are high.

You should also make sure you avail the right guarantee for the investment you have made on the treadmill to safeguard it from future damages. Thus, the above mentioned factors play a great role in choosing the best treadmill that suits your need and budget.