The History of Treadmills
Every day, millions of Americans step onto a treadmill to get their daily fitness requirement. While today's treadmills are an excellent source for cardiovascular exercise, the first treadmills were used out of necessity for more efficient labor.
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Origins
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Since Roman times, humans have used human and animal labor to harness energy for operating machines such as plows, old mills, water pumps and mining machines. The laborers, often slaves, would use foot-treading or arm-cranking to power the machines.
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Sir William Cubit
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In about 1818, Sir William Cubitt invented the prison treadmill, which put prisoners to work grinding grain via a mill that was powered by foot.
Dr. Robert Bruce
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In 1952, Dr. Robert Bruce and Wayne Quinton invented the first medical treadmill. It was used to diagnose heart disease by monitoring the patient's heart while he walked.
Dr. Kenneth Cooper
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In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper's research on the benefits of aerobic exercise was published, bringing widespread interest to the concept of fitness. Companies Tunturi, Aerobics Inc., Woodway, Trackmaster and Star Trac began designing treadmills for home use.
2009
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According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, in 2009, exercise equipment was a $4.22 billion industry, with treadmill sales accounting for 25.9 percent. Treadmills continue to dominate the fitness industry.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Luis Markovic
