Treadmills are a popular at-home fitness equipment choice for a good reason. They are versatile, straightforward, and provide a great full-body workout.
Many people realize that exercise has benefits, but there are many specific benefits that people are missing out on if they opt out of using treadmills.
This article will discuss 10 of the most important benefits of using a treadmill that will likely inspire you to hop on this excellent machine today.
1. Weight Loss
Weight loss is arguably the most obvious benefit of using treadmills. A treadmill provides the opportunity to get an intense cardio workout, which is crucial for burning calories and losing weight.
Whether you are practicing enduring running, high-intensity interval/intermittent training (HIIT), or sprints, you can be sure that a treadmill can help you achieve your weight loss goals with consistent use.
2. Improved Heart Health
In addition to promoting weight loss, treadmill use can also help improve your heart health. Treadmill exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
You don’t even have to run to achieve many of these benefits. For example, studies show that just walking multiple times a week can help lower your blood pressure. Walking is a low-impact exercise that can start your journey to good health.
3. Increased Endurance
If you keep at it, using a treadmill can help increase your endurance. Endurance training is especially beneficial for those training for a long-distance race, marathon, or event.
When you run on a treadmill, your body becomes more efficient at using oxygen, which leads to improved endurance.
As your endurance improves, your ability to run faster for a more extended period is beneficial for weight loss since faster speeds will help burn more calories.
4. Strengthens Muscles
Many assume that a treadmill is a cardio machine with no benefits for muscle-strengthening purposes. However, this is not the case.
Treadmill use can help to tone and strengthen your muscles, especially in your legs and glutes. That is because when running, your muscles have to work harder than they would if you were just walking.
Plus, treadmills that allow you to increase your incline can provide an even more challenging workout for your leg muscles, which can help to tone and strengthen them further.
However, if you have an at-home treadmill coupled with at-home fitness equipment specifically for strength training, you’ll be able to access the best of both cardio and complete strength training.
5. Reduces Stress Levels
In today’s society, it’s no secret that stress levels are at an all-time high. And unfortunately, stress usually works with a team: it brings along frustration, sadness, worry, anger, fear, and more.
Fortunately, regular exercise has been shown to help reduce stress levels. And because treadmills are so convenient and easy to use, they make it much easier to get in your regular exercise and de-stress.
So, next time you feel overwhelmed, try hopping on the treadmill for a quick walk or run. You may be surprised at how excellent you feel afterward.
6. Increases Energy Levels
If you find yourself tired all the time, you’re not alone. Treadmills provide ample benefits when it comes to reducing fatigue.
It may seem counterintuitive that working out and tiring the body by walking or running can increase your energy. Still, as your body gets more fit from consistent workouts, it will be able to utilize oxygen better, which helps to increase energy levels.
Not to mention that when you feel good about your physical fitness, it can also lead to increased mental energy and motivation.
7. Improves Brain Function
It’s not just your body that benefits from using a treadmill; your brain does too.
Treadmill exercise has been shown to improve brain function in several different ways.
For example, it can help improve memory, increase focus and concentration, and decrease the risk of dementia (as well as reduce anxiety for people who already have dementia).
8. Improve Sleep Quality
In addition, treadmill use can help improve sleep quality. Improved sleep is especially beneficial for those who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night.
Exercise helps improve sleep quality, but a treadmill is a fantastic option because it’s easy to use, and you can do it at any time of day, especially if you have an at-home treadmill.
9. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
For those with diabetes, using a treadmill can be especially beneficial because it helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
During exercise, your muscles require glucose for energy. This need causes your blood sugar levels to decrease. However, your blood sugar levels will rebound after you finish your workout and rest.
This process can benefit people with diabetes because it helps keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high or low.
10. Improves Mental Health
Now that you know training on a treadmill can improve sleep, decrease stress, improve brain functioning, and increase energy levels, it should be no surprise that it has incredible benefits for improving your overall mental health.
But even more, treadmill exercise has been shown to help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety and increase self-esteem. If you’re feeling down, a quick walk or run on the treadmill may be just what you need to help improve your mood.
And if you stick with a more consistent treadmill routine, such as three times per week for 30 minutes, you’ll be able to see long-term mental health improvement over time.
Final Thoughts
There are countless benefits of running and walking on a treadmill, but these ten benefits are some of the most impressive.
It may seem mundane or tiring, but getting comfortable with — or even excited by — treadmill workouts can help you reap many benefits in the long run.
So a treadmill may be the perfect solution if you’re looking for at-home fitness equipment that can help improve your physical and mental health.
