The 5 Best Treadmill Desks, According to a Physical Therapist

If you resolved to sit less and move more this year, start looking at your work day. If you spend long stretches sitting in front of a computer, investing in a treadmill desk can help you get up and moving even when your to-do list is a mile long.

A treadmill desk offers the health benefits of physical activity with the space you need to get work done — so you can still answer emails, draft that presentation and participate in meetings as you get your heart pumping. Knowing you don't have to step away from a looming deadline may make it easier to convince yourself to get up and move (if the link between prolonged sitting and negative health outcomes isn't enough).

To help you on your path to better health, we've rounded up five stellar treadmill desks to incorporate into your home office.

To bring you the best of the best treadmill desks, we tapped Brett Warner, PT, DPT, a physical therapist with Bespoke Treatments in New York City. Every treadmill desk listed was vetted using the following criteria:

• Features
• Price
• User ratings

This standing desk treadmill offers tons of handy features. "The desktop is wide and adjustable, the treadmill motor is quiet and it has internal cable routing," Warner tells LIVESTRONG.com. Plus, it's reasonably priced.

You can get the desk in various colors and widths (up 48 inches), and it adjusts from 33.5 to 52.5 inches in height. The portable treadmill console is small enough to fit on your desktop, allowing you to control your pace and keep tabs on your activity metrics (steps, time, distance, calories burned, speed). The treadmill also includes a safety feature that pauses the treadmill when you stop moving.

If you're not looking to invest in a separate treadmill and desk, try this budget pick. The treadmill comes with a removable acrylic table top that's big enough to hold a laptop, along with smaller items like a notepad and water bottle. You can also store your phone in the phone holder.

An extra-large LCD display installed at the base of the treadmill enables you to monitor your speed, time, distance, steps and calories. Start, stop and adjust the treadmill pace with the included remote control. When the machine isn't in use, you can save space by folding it. Once folded, the treadmill measures 54 inches long, 26 inches wide and 6 inches high.

One caveat: "While the treadmill can go fast enough to run, I'd stick to walking," Warner says. At only 73 pounds, the machine is a bit too lightweight to handle fast speeds for any sustained period of time.

This office treadmill desk setup is ideal for workers who cherish the quiet. The treadmill operates at 43 decibels, which is 5 decibels lower than its closest competitor, according to the manufacturer. They also claim that this noise rating is lower even than the ambient noise levels of most office spaces, so you can walk with ease during phone and video calls.

The treadmill includes a desktop console with a full-color touchscreen display that enables you to operate the treadmill and track your walking speed, distance, time and calories burned.

Meanwhile, the desk is available in various sizes (from 47 to 71 inches wide) and configurations, 19 standard colors, hundreds of custom color choices and offers add-on options like file cabinets and cable management kits. It has a height range of 22 to 48 inches, but if you're tall, you have the option to add height extenders to expand to 54 inches.

In addition, Warner says that the tilting keyboard tray helps protect your wrists when walking and typing.

At only 56 inches in length, this desk treadmill is one of the shortest on our list, making it an excellent option for tight spaces. It's also quiet and easy to move. Adjust your speed with the portable treadmill console that fits on your desktop and track your activity stats in the app.

The accompanying desk is 30 inches long and available in different widths, from 48 to 72 inches. Select the size that best suits the space you have available. No matter which size you choose, you'll still get 25.5 inches of height adjustment (from 25.9 to 51.4 inches).

If you already have a treadmill, turn it into a workspace with this treadmill desk attachment. This solid bamboo option attaches to the arms of your treadmill with heavy-duty velcro straps. It also includes a built-in adjustable laptop stand and enough space on either side to hold books, water bottles and other small items (up to 130 pounds total). Non-slip strips under the desk help keep it in place while you move and work.

This attachment measures 34 inches wide and 14.4 inches long. It should fit most treadmills, but make sure to check the measurements before ordering.

When it comes to treadmill desks, there are a couple of basic options: ones with the desk attached and ones where the treadmill and desk are separate.

A standing desk and treadmill combo (like the iMovR, LifeSpan or Fully) can save space and offer more flexibility, as you can use the desk whether you're walking, standing or sitting. Plus, you can customize the height of your desktop for maximum comfort. The downside is that these setups can be pretty pricey.

Treadmills with attached desks (like the Costway), on the other hand, tend to be more affordable. They're also a great option if you already have a home office setup and aren't interested in replacing it with a standing desk and treadmill. However, because you're adding a piece of equipment to your existing setup, your home office could end up looking (and feeling) cluttered. (Already have a standing desk? Shop our picks for the best under-desk treadmills.)

Figure out how much space you have available in your home office for an office treadmill desk and take measurements. Compare these measurements to the treadmill desk specs before ordering, and be sure to account for any space you'll need to store the treadmill when you're not using it.

Thankfully, many treadmills with attached desks are foldable and easy to move. Folding and storing it when not in use will help you save space.

You may need to set up and take down your treadmill desk at some point during your work day, so it's essential to find one that takes as little time and effort as possible.

"At the end of the day, exercise equipment is only useful if you use it," Warner says. You can increase your odds of using the treadmill desk by choosing one you know you can handle. When shopping, look over the product info for details on setup and takedown. If it sounds too complicated, you may want to pass.

Desk treadmills come in a wide range of speed capabilities. Some enable you to run, whereas others top out at walking pace. So, check the desk treadmill's speed range when shopping and choose the one that matches your planned activities.

However, if you need your desk treadmill to be as quiet as possible, you may want to pick one that's built for walking only. "Walking treadmill bases will likely be less noisy than running treadmill bases," Warner says.

Walking while you type can take some getting used to. To avoid accidents while multitasking, look for treadmills that offer safety features like safety keys and step detection, which automatically pauses the belt when you stop moving.

While you're at it, consider how you want to control your speed while you're on the treadmill. Some options have a remote control or portable monitor, whereas others operate like a traditional treadmill. Pick whichever method feels most comfortable so you feel confident when walking.