Treadmills are often marketed as safe, practical ways to work out in the comfort of your own home. Their surfaces are sometimes considered easier on your joints than roads and trails, and they can improve your running cadence.
However, there are some hidden dangers that lurk just beneath the surface…
What are the health risks of using a treadmill?
Treadmills cause the most injuries of any exercise modality. They cause broken bones, abrasions, and in some heartbreaking cases, death.
Multiple people die annually in treadmill-related incidents.
Young children, like Mike Tyson’s 4 year old daughter, get tangled in the cords and are strangled. People fall, like mother of four Delrie Rosario, and SurveyMonkey CEO David Goldberg, and sustain fatal injuries.
Are treadmills safe for older people?
The older you get, the more important it is that you take care of your body. For many senior citizens, treadmills are a cost-effective way to exercise, so they invest in a machine without a second thought.
However, using a treadmill as an older person can have some serious consequences.
Walking on hard surfaces, including treadmills, can aggravate arthritic joints (particularly the knees, feet, hips, spine and shins). Treadmills can also worsen gait and posture because people change their walking style to suit the belt; especially if they’re holding onto the sides or front of the machine. Holding on also decreases core activity and responsiveness over time, eliminates the natural counter-rotation arm swing, and creates mal-alignment and general wear and tear. This can be catastrophic and cause irreparable damage.
Taking a walk out in the open air can be much more beneficial than using a treadmill. Exercising outside can make you feel energised, boost your self esteem and relieve stress.
So, why not get off the treadmill and enjoy the natural world around you?
