Like any piece of exercise equipment, treadmills can be confusing to if you have never used one before. Because safety is such an important aspect of using exercise equipment, it is important that you understand the potential risks and proper use of a treadmill before stepping on. Many people assume that the handrails on a treadmill are in place so that you can stabilize yourself while working out. While that is possible, it's not necessarily the purpose of the handrails.
Treadmill Safety
Treadmills can cause serious injury if used incorrectly. One of the first rules of using a treadmill is to never step on to an already moving treadmill. Rather, you should step on to a motionless treadmill belt and then turn on the treadmill. Additionally, you should make sure that the treadmill's speed control is set to the lowest speed possible before turning it on. In this scenario, you may want to hold on to the handrails of the treadmill to stabilize yourself against an unwanted jolt.
Misconceptions
Although many people may run while holding on to the hand rails that either flank the treadmill belt or sit right in front of it, this can do more damage than good. According to ArthritisToday.com, holding on to these hand rails cause you to run with poor posture. Exercising with poor posture may increase your risk of a back injury or other injury in the body.
Handrail Function
The proper use of hand rails is two-fold. First, they are there for you to catch or stabilize yourself in order to prevent a fall, such as if you trip or slip on the treadmill belt. Hand rails also help stabilize you when you are using one hand to make changes on the treadmill console, such as changing the incline or adjusting the speed of the belt. The hand rail should only be used sporadically for a few moments rather than as a crutch for your workout.
Considerations
There is a lot of risk involved in using hand rails to help yourself keep pace when running or walking. You are much more likely to slip and fall on the treadmill, which can cause a bad friction burn or other injury. You shouldn't feel any discomfort with your treadmill speed and should avoid using the hand rails to aid your performance at any point. If you feel yourself needing to grab the hand rails, you probably need to slow down.
Member Comments