Manual Treadmill Exercises

For some people, treadmills are very boring, while other people can't go one day without stepping on and giving it a whirl. One way to spice up the boredom is to do some manual workouts that cannot be found in the program options.

Function

Treadmills are designed to get a cardiovascular workout in the confines of a house or gym. They come equipped with their own workout programs or can be adjusted manually for variations.

Time Frame

Manual treadmill routines can go as long as you desire. The rule of the thumb is, the more intense it is, the less amount of time it needs to be. This would be the case with a 20-minute sprint interval.

Features

Manual treadmill workouts have some specific features. You don't have to follow a structured program, you can adjust the speed and incline, and you also don't have to set up a specific duration. This allows you to exercise at different intensities for different lengths of time.

Features

A great high-intensity workout can be done on a treadmill called the Incline Trainer by Nordic Track. These treadmills go all the way up to a 40 percent incline. This high incline will increase caloric expenditure and also engage a lot more muscle fibers.

Expert Insight

A great manual exercise to do is running backwards on a steep incline. This needs to be done at a slow speed and also with extreme caution. Turn around on the treadmill with your feet on the side rails. Lift yourself up and slowly lower yourself down on the treadmill until you are running. To get off, simply place your hands back on the handrails and lift yourself up.