Treadmills allow for a customized workout --- you can walk or jog depending on your fitness level, goals and preferences. However, while walking is safe and effective for most populations, jogging on a treadmill offers several benefits over its less intense counterpart.
Muscular
Jogging on a treadmill requires greater muscle usage than walking. Unlike walking, jogging recruits the gluteal muscles while also working the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, hip flexors and abdominal muscles to a greater extent. Adding an incline to your jogging treadmill workout will force your muscles to work even harder.
Cardiovascular
Walking on a treadmill is a great way to work your cardiovascular system but upgrading your workout to a jog will tax your heart and lungs even more. This increased cardiovascular stress will force your body to adapt much faster than walking, resulting in greater fitness. Progressing to a run will create even greater fitness gains.
Efficiency
Jogging on a treadmill will give you a much more efficient workout than walking. You may burn 300 calories in 30 minutes while jogging, but it could take a full hour to achieve the same result while walking. If you're short on time but still want a calorie-scorching workout, jogging would be much more beneficial than walking.
Stronger Bones
Walking is considered a low-impact exercise while jogging has a reasonable amount of impact. This can be dangerous for individuals with bone or joint conditions, but for everyone else it is generally not an issue. In fact, some impact is actually a good thing, especially when it comes to your bones. The impact associated with jogging on a treadmill can increase bone density and lower your risk of osteoporosis.
References
- Human Kinetics: Jogging Offers Same Health Benefits as Walking
- "ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer", Second Edition; Nicki Anderson, et al.; 2007
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