Treadmills are the most popular piece of equipment for gym and home use. There are two varieties of treadmills available to consumers. Deciding which to buy or use is a matter of preference and budget.
The Facts
A motorized treadmill is equipped with a motor that powers the treadmill belt. The user powers a non-motorized treadmill by walking forward and pushing the feet against the treadmill belt.
History
According to Treadmilllife.com, the first operating treadmill was built in 1875 to power equipment such as butter churns and water pumps. Not until 1952 did doctor Robert A. Bruce of The University of Washington in Seattle get the idea to use treadmills to diagnose heart disease in humans.
Function
Motorized and non-motorized treadmills are used to improve cardiovascular fitness. Home gyms have non-motorized and motorized treadmills. The vast majority of commercial fitness facilities only have motorized treadmills available for users.
Features
The push of a button powers motorized treadmills, which come with multiple features on the console to vary the workout. Lanyards are attached to the console for safety. Handrails provide extra security as well. The intensity level on the motorized treadmill can be changed with ease. The console allows the storage of water bottles and keys, and some motorized treadmills come with a fan. There are models that fold for easy storage.
The push of the feet against the conveyor belt powers the manual treadmill. There are no features on the console, and an increase in incline usually involves putting books under the feet of the treadmill or getting off the treadmill to manually adjust the incline level. There are handrails present on most motorized treadmills. Some consoles allow for storage of water bottles and keys. Most manual treadmills fold for easy storage.
Identification
The colorful console easily identifies motorized treadmills. They are more expensive than manual treadmills. Prices start at $500 or more for a new model and go up to $10,000 for higher-end brands such as Woodway. The deck on a motorized treadmill is thicker and comes with a motor under the front cover.
Manual treadmills have a no-frills console free of buttons and other adjustments. Prices for manual treadmills start around $100 and rarely exceed $500 for new models. The deck of a manual treadmill is thin, and the machine doesn't come equipped with a motor.
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