Functional Training: Treadmills

Video Transcript

"So here's a treadmill commonly found in your gym. So the biggest mistake people make with this device is just getting on to it and starting to run. Especially when it's in a flat position cranking the speed up to an intense enough rate where you have to run on is probably one of the biggest mistakes that I see so commonly. The option of course and the better benefit to this is to just understand proper mechanics when using a treadmill and when running properly. When you do this you can actually walk, you can jog, you can run and you can create your own cardiovascular program based on proper movement and mechanics. So I'm just going to start this machine up. I like to just push the quick start button its alway a nice quick start option. Increase the speed just to get a nice initial gait pattern. So one of the biggest and most common errors on any treadmill is this whole area right here. To hold on completely isolates the upper part of the body. This is something we want to avoid when we're trying to always maintain and try to create is a nice counter rotative type movement pattern. It means you need to swing your arms like a speed walker. All you're trying to think about is the arms move across your body, get into a counter rotative type movement with your legs. Now as I increase the speed I can also increase the incline a little bit. What that'll help to do is promote more of a workout. It will provide me with the opportunity to push through my legs. This is the next biggest error but also of course the opportunity to get a better exercise out of the movement. Push through the toes. Riding you with a long stretch through the back of the legs. Activating your gluteal muscles forcing you to breathe and use your core muscularity. Biggest mistake I always see as well would be people watching T.V.. Instead tune into maybe some music. We use it as an opportunity to get back into your own body. Walking, beginning a slow jog, counter rotating, breathing, activating your core muscles, pressing though your toes and keeping your feet straight."