Have you jumped on a treadmill machine lately? When you want a great workout,



the treadmill is one of the finest ways to tone your lower body in an exciting

and rewarding fashion. Day after day, you can work various muscle groups as you

run, jog or walk your way to better fitness. Run on an incline, run at a faster

speed. But have you ever wondered, as you were running, how it all works? How it

all fits together?

A treadmill is essentially a machine that gives you a multi-terrain experience

from the comfort and privacy of your own home. You can walk, jog or run in a

variety of environments—all on a belt that is specially designed to give you the

highest level of aerobic exercise possible. With a frame that surrounds a

cushioning belt, powered by a matching motor and array of features, such as

speed and incline, the user can get a multitude of fitness programs and an

overall versatile workout each time he or she jumps on board.

The platform and the belt are essential components to the treadmill. A treadmill

has been shown to last a long time because the exercise mimics our natural

movements. The platform and belt are important parts to ensure you have a

smooth, comfortable exercise. A good belt should be no less than 18 inches wide

and 48 inches long; a very tall person should have a belt no less than 20 inches

wide and 54 inches long.

The motor – variable speed is an important part of your workout. Altering the

motor speed can help you work out to your own pace—in a comfortable, yet

challenging manner. The basic treadmill will have a minimum rating of 1.5

horsepower. The workout on a minimum 1.5 will give you a poor workout and

frequently suffer breakdowns. This minimum rating cannot hold up well to the

repeated use of the treadmill day after day. A good treadmill has a 2HP

continuous motor and can withstand year after year of abuse.

Incline is an important part of the overall treadmill experience. Incline can

give you an intense calf workout as well as a higher cardiovascular routine.

Incline provides an increased resistance as the machine rises in varying levels.

The higher the level of incline, the higher level of aerobic exercise and

increased fitness activity. A machine can quickly and adeptly raise and lower the machine

without disrupting a user’s exercise experience. A lesser machine has to be

raised manually or causes the runner, jogger or walker to have a shaky, unsteady

exercise as the machine adjusts to the new level of incline during the workout.

The monitors on a treadmill measure the user’s outout throughout the run. For

example, heart rate monitors on high-end machines can help an individual

maintain a particular targeted heart rate for optimal fitness workouts. In this

way, a person can work out smarter, not harder to obtain the results he or she

needs. Monitors placed on the panel in front of the treadmill will control your

speed, incline and give you an output on time, calories and more.

These monitors not only provide accurate and important information throughout

the exercise, they are significant motivating factors throughout the entire

length of the workout.

In short, as you are working out and giving it your hardest, there is a lot of

factors going on underneath you. The better the machine is that you are running,

jogging or walking with, the better your overall workout will be—year after

year. From the incline to the speed, monitor reading and more, your treadmill

machine provides a variety of options and information for you at every moment.

Next time you are running along, getting the workout you want, give a mental

pause to all the factors that go into obtaining a great, rewarding workout.

Purchase the best. Measure all of the factors that affect your workout before

you buy.

About the Author: Jennifer Dennis is a successful author and regular

contributor to - a fitness and treadmill industry resource that features treadmill reviews,

guides, product descriptions and articles.