We are getting more health-conscious these days and apart from dietary changes, exercise is now an essential part of our lives. Often, we think of going to a gym first, but it's not as convenient as exercising at home. With many of us spending more time indoors, treadmills become popular. Compared to running outdoors or at a gym, running at home is not affected by weather conditions. You can also do other things such as listening to your favourite music while you run without worrying about disturbing others.

Benefits of a Treadmill

1. Unaffected by weather

Runners often miss their runs due to bad weather such as rain, wind or even heat, whereas indoor treadmills allow you to run anytime.

2. Reduce physical impact

When running on hard or uneven surfaces, the impact on our legs and knees can be quite high. Fortunately, today’s treadmills are equipped with shock absorption and cushioning functions. When your feet hit the ground, the rubberised treadmill absorbs some of the impact. This reduces the burden on your ankles, knees and hip joints.

3. Improve cardiopulmonary function

Aerobic exercise such as running improves blood circulation, strengthens your heart and lungs and can lower cholesterol, reduce fat, and prevent heart and blood diseases.

4. Release mental stress

Aerobic exercise also releases endorphins, which make people feel happy, thus relieving stress and anxiety from urban life and work.

5. Strengthen muscles

The muscles of our hands, abdomen and legs all get exercised during running. Pumping your arms back and forth while running builds up your arm muscles, lifting and tucking your abdomen strengthens your core, and your legs become stronger as you run. Running improves and increases the strength of your muscles in all three areas of your body.

How to Choose the
Right Treadmill for Your Home?

1. Size of the running belt

Running belts that are too long or too short are not suitable. It is generally recommended that the belt should be at least 40cm in length to give the runner the right amount of space to run.

2. Treadmill speed

For the average beginner, 1-12km/h is suitable. For jogging, 7-8km/h is sufficient, but for those who do not run regularly, 8km/h is already a lot of work. That’s why we recommend a treadmill speed between 1-12km/h. However, for more advanced training, consider a high-speed treadmill, for example 1-16km/h, for best results.

3. Storage

The biggest problem when considering getting a treadmill is storage. Do you have room for a large piece of equipment? The good news is that there are now many folding treadmills on the market which offer 90-degree vertical folding, or their runways can be folded up to save space.

4. Incline adjustment

The incline of the treadmill can be adjusted to a maximum of 9 to 18 degrees. The greater the incline, the better the cardio training. Choose an incline according to your ability and proceed gradually. Do not overdo any programme to avoid injury.

Tips for Using a Treadmill

1. Wear sports shoes

Some people run barefoot on a treadmill. This is not a good idea as it puts a lot of pressure on your legs and feet. Wear suitable sports shoes when you run.

2. Reduce noise during running

Treadmills inevitably produce noise during use. To reduce volume, lay a soft mat on the floor under the treadmill or put non-slip mats under the 4 corners of the treadmill to reduce friction between the treadmill and the floor.

3. Accelerate fat-burning

If you want to speed up your slimming process, try walking briskly for 30 minutes on a treadmill set at a 12-degree incline. This burns up energy and increases your heart rate to achieve a fat-burning effect.