A treadmill allows you to walk or run at a pace to meet your fitness needs or weight-loss goals. While using a treadmill doesn’t usually affect people adversely, it can at times cause you to feel off balance or possibly dizzy, a feeling called vertigo. However, there are ways to deal with vertigo and get the most out of your exercise routine.
Symptoms
Vertigo symptoms include unsteadiness, a floating sensation and lightheadedness. After you get off of the treadmill, you may feel like the room is spinning or as if you are going to fall over or lose your balance. Severe vertigo can trigger a bad headache or migraine, followed by nausea and vomiting.
Causes
The biggest cause of vertigo related to treadmills is having the illusion of movement. When you are on the treadmill, you are moving while remaining in one place; however, your brain registers that you're moving through space, not standing still. This is because your inner ear, which is responsible for balance by monitoring your movements and direction, can be affected when the environment around you is standing still while you are moving. Your nervous system responds by what your eyes see and what your sensory receptors are relaying to the brain. The resulting vertigo may only be a temporary feeling until your body gets used to the treadmill, or it may occur consistently over time. It may also not affect you while you are on the treadmill, but only once you get off. Your body needs time to adjust to walking in place and then walking without the treadmill.
Treatment
When vertigo strikes, carefully get off the treadmill and lie or sit down for a few minutes until the dizziness and unsteadiness subsides. Then use the treadmill again -- take it slowly and gradually work up your pace. If the condition returns, get a health checkup from your doctor to rule out any underlying medical condition that could also cause vertigo, such as a heart condition or inner ear infection.
Tips
If walking or running on a treadmill affects your equilibrium, focus your vision forward. Allow your body to see what direction you are moving in to reduce the likelihood of your brain setting off central nervous system triggers. Avoid reading or watching TV while on the treadmill -- this may lead to vertigo because your body is tricked into thinking that you are not moving. Avoid listening to loud music while on your treadmill -- this causes vibrations in the inner ear that could trigger vertigo.
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