If you are a senior looking to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, the treadmill accommodates exercise routines that include walking, jogging or running to meet your fitness levels. With so many treadmills on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one that fits your physical capabilities and safety needs.
Strong Frame
Most treadmills are made with steel or aluminum to sustain most workouts and last longer. A product with a strong foundation performs better, allowing you to get the most out of your exercise workout. Equipment that is unsteady while performing exercises, can cause loss of balance and increase your chances of injury.
Heart Rate Monitor
Heart rate is monitored by placing your hands on the sensors of the side handrails. On the front frame of most treadmills, guidelines are given to reach your target heart rate depending on age and intensity of the workout. Seniors that monitor their heart rate during exercise benefit the most during a workout while safely doing so. Heart rate above the target rate means you are overexerting yourself and need to slow down and below the target rate indicates you are not getting the maximum benefit from the exercise.
Safety Key
To prevent yourself from falling, choose a treadmill that comes with a safety key. It acts as an emergency stop switch when you are near the end of the treadbelt. Before you begin your workout, clip the attached safety key to a piece of your clothing. The key is connected by a magnet on the treadmill. If you begin to reach the end of the belt, the attached magnet detaches itself and comes to an abrupt halt before you fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hip fractures are the most frequent type of fall-related fractures.
Sidings
For senior citizens, it is important to have side platforms if the workout becomes too intense or tiring. The side platforms are on both sides of the treadbelt and are not in motion. To catch your breath or take a break from the workout without stopping the treadmill, step to the sides one foot at a time holding the handrails. Return to the belt slowly holding the handrails when ready to resume the workout.
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