Treadmills in the Modern World

Is it just me, or have treadmills become technological masterpieces over the past few years? They're no longer just belts that move when you want on them. They're frickin' personal trainers! Even the lowest of low models has some crazy features that treadmills didn't have 40 years ago. It's just crazy to see the changes that have happened in this field over the years. In this article, I wanted to talk about some of the many features you may find in the next treadmill you decide. The innovations are truly astounding. Here is a look at the whacky world of walkin' machines.

Inclines

I think the addition of an incline opportunity was a brilliant idea for treadmills. When you go walking on a trail somewhere, you aren't going to be walking on a flat surface. Treadmills can now mimic the incline that you would have to walk on in nature by adjusting the slope of the walkway. This gives you a chance to walk uphill and really work on those leg muscles. Sometimes all it takes is an inch of height difference to transform your body for the better.

Drill Settings

A lot of modern day treadmills have drills built into them, where they change speeds and inclines to make you work out in different ways. No, these aren't like drills in police officer training. They are designed to create a more realistic workout for you. I do these all the time because I don't like just walking in one way for 30 minutes to an hour. You can set your own drills for some machines, or you can use the ones that they have built in. Whatever you do, you will end up with a fun opportunity to work out like you would with an actual trainer or on a walk in the mountains.

Safety Features

Treadmills now come equipped with safety features to shut off if you happen to fall down. This will prevent you from constantly smacking on the treadmill belt if you trip while walking. On my treadmill, there is a little magnetic device that I have to attach to my arm with a clip. The magnet allows me to turn on the machine, but it pulls right off with my shirt if I fall. When the magnet is off its spot on the treadmill, the machine will shut off. That keeps me safe from harm :)

Heart Rate Monitors

Some treadmills actually have heart rate monitors built in to help you see how rapidly your pulse is moving with every walk. This feature doesn't always work, but it is nice to have. In most cases, the monitor will be in the form of some sort of handle that you have to grab onto. The handle will read your pulse through your palms and tell you what it is on the screen. Then you can see just how much of a workout you're putting in on the treadmill.

Scales

Higher end treadmills now come with scales built into them, so all you have to do is step on and see how much you weigh. This is a great way to check your progress on the machine because you can see how much you weigh right there. You could check your weight before and after your workout, but that may be counterproductive. Chances are you won't lose that much if any right away, so you might want to wait a week to check in on the matter. Hopefully your fancy dancy treadmill will provide significant improvements to your weight.

Check out the treadmills in your are the next time you go out to the store, and you may be surprised by what they have to offer you.