Treadmill Safety

Treadmills are an alternative to walking outside. Although, there are no stray dogs, uneven paths, bikes or other walkers to worry about, treadmills do have safety issues. Therefore, it is important to understand how to operate a treadmill before using one. Also, learning about precautions that can be taken can help to avoid unfortunate accidents.

Function

The purpose of treadmills is to simulate the experience of walking or jogging. Treadmills are typically turned on with the push of a button. Users can set the treadmill to function at their own pace. It is very important to check the settings before hitting the start button. Make sure it is set at a slow speed before stepping on the belt. Failure to do so could result in injury.

Features

Many indicator lights appear on the screen of a treadmill. In addition to speed and skill level, there are separate counters for time, miles completed and calories burned. Consult with your doctor before setting any goals. Walking or jogging rapidly puts pressure on the heart causing it to work faster. Therefore, do not allow counters to determine when you can stop. In addition to your breathing and heart rate, be cognizant of your placement on the belt. If you are too close to the back you could fall off.

Benefits

Taking a walk outside or jogging in the park is not always possible due to time constraints or weather conditions. Treadmills provide the convenience and opportunity to walk or jog at any time. It also allows you to exercise many muscles at the same time. On most treadmills, you also have the option to walk on an incline. This helps to firm up problem areas such as thighs.

Considerations

Wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict your movements in any way. Wearing sneakers that are designed for walking or running provides more support for your feet when engaging in these activities. Also, have a bottle of water handy and possibly a towel since you will be sweating. Stopping the treadmill abruptly during your workout puts an added strain on your heart and can make you feel dizzy. Always increase and decrease speeds slowly.

Prevention/Solution

Although this may be stating the obvious, make sure your sneakers are tied in a tight knot. Merely tucking the laces in your sneakers is not good enough. Unlaced sneakers can lead to injuries if your foot becomes dislodged from the sneaker or if you step on your shoelace. In fact, strings, laces or wires of any kind should not be dangling. If you use an MP3 player while on the treadmill make sure it is secured to prevent you from stepping on it should it fall. If you have children and there is a treadmill in your home, unplug the treadmill after each use instead of just turning it off. This will prevent them from inadvertently turning it on and hurting themselves.

Resources

• Treadmill Talk Safety Tips