Parallel dips help to tone your triceps, pectorals, deltoids, transverse abdominus and oblique muscles. However, you need a set of parallel bars to do this exercise. If you don't have access to parallel bars, there are some alternatives available that allow you to work these same muscles in a different way. Treadmills aren't meant to be used as parallel bars.
Parallel Dips
To do parallel dips, stand between two parallel bars, place your hands on the bars and straighten your arms to lift your body off the ground. Bend your knees to raise your feet off the ground and cross your ankles behind you. Bend your elbows and slowly lower your body toward the ground, stopping when your upper arms are parallel to the ground. Push up to straighten your arms and return to the starting position to complete one repetition.
Use of a Treadmill
Although some treadmills have parallel arms that users can hold while exercising, these typically aren't strong enough to hold your body weight. If you try to do parallel dips with a treadmill, you may break the treadmill and injure yourself. Many home treadmills don't have arms long enough to even attempt this exercise.
Alternatives
If you don't have parallel bars, you can make them out of PVC pipe or wood. However, it is easier to do bench dips instead. Sit on the edge of a chair or bench with your hands on the bench at your sides. Slide forward and bend your arms to lower yourself down into a dip, then straighten your arms to raise your body again, similar to the motion used for parallel dips. You can do this exercise with your knees bent, your legs straight in front of you, or your legs on another bench or chair. Each of this alternatives is slightly more difficult than the previous option.
Considerations
Parallel dips can put a lot of pressure on your shoulders, so don't do this exercise if you have shoulder problems and don't dip so low that your upper arms go past the parallel stage. If you need to make dips more difficult, wear a weighted vest instead of trying to dip lower.
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