How to Walk Sideways on the Treadmill

Overview

Walking sideways on your treadmill can make a regular, boring workout more interesting, and help to tone and work some of the muscles in the inner and outer thighs as you engage them with the side-stepping motion. As long as you are careful and practice treadmill safety, walking sideways can help you use your treadmill to become a full workout machine, as opposed to a simple cardio machine. Add sideways steps to your usual cardio routine for variety.

Step 1

Start with the treadmill in the off position. If your treadmill has a safety clip that automatically turns off if you fall, make sure to clip it to your clothes.

Step 2

Stand with your feet together, facing the left so that the outside of your right foot is facing the front of the treadmill.

Step 3

Turn the treadmill on, choosing a very slow speed at a level one or two until you can walk sideways more successfully. Start at a lower level so that you don't risk getting hurt by going too fast.

Step 4

Step carefully with the speed of the treadmill. Step your right foot first, and then bring your feet together, then step with your right foot again. You'll feel that your right leg is doing most of the work.

Step 5

Walk sideways in this way until your leg begins to fatigue. You can increase the speed as you become more comfortable with walking sideways.

Step 6

Stop the treadmill to switch positions so that your left leg is facing the front. Start the treadmill again, and repeat the length of time you walked with your right foot in front on the left side. Speed up as you become more comfortable.

Step 7

Change the workout up by stepping behind your other foot and crossing over. You should slow the treadmill speed down again for this, as it is more complicated.