Advantages of Treadmill Exercise

There are many indoor exercise machines on the market, but by far the most beneficial in terms of weight loss, and increasing fitness. In this article we will look at some of the advantages of using a treadmill for your exercise when compared with working out on other exercise machines.

Studies have shown that the treadmill is more effective then an exercise bike in burning calories. For example a group of volunteers at the Milwaukee Veterans Administration Hospital did a series of workouts on different machines, each time exercising at what felt like the same intensity. Researchers used a special device to measure the number of calories burned. The results of the research suggested that using the treadmill resulted in a 200 calories per hour being burned more than if you were using an exercise bike. At medium intensity, it was found that on the treadmill you burned an average of 700 calories per hour, whilst on an exercise bike you burned an average of 500 calories per hour. This may be attributed to the treadmill offering a full body workout, whilst the exercise bike means you are only working out your legs.

Whilst burning calories is a great benefit of treadmill usage, there are many other reasons why a treadmill can be beneficial. Walking is a great form of exercise for those who are overweight, or suffering conditions such as osteoporosis, hypertension and back pain. Further, a treadmill adds consistency to your walking workout because many models allow you to maintain speed and intensity throughout your entire workout.

Once you have started to improve your fitness and lost some weight, if you increase the intensity of your exercise from walking to jogginf you can strengthen and improve muscle tone over your entire body. Strengthened muscles means the heart can pump more oxygen-rich blood with each step you take.

A treadmill has many features. You can change the speed, and elevate the incline. Many treadmills also come with heart rate monitors, as well as measuring distance and time elapsed. Some also help you measure calories burned. A treadmill is a great machine to improve your health and fitness without having to leave your home.