Treadmill is one of the most used gym machines by the beginners who are not aware about gym and are at a loss about where to begin. Though, treadmill is a simple enough machine, there are still certain do’s and don’ts to be considered while using a treadmill.
10 treadmill mistakes that needs to be avoided
- Moving on autopilot-When a similar kind of exercise is done every day, our body gets adapted to these moves and stops reacting. This is also referred to as “hitting a plateau” in terms of exercisers. Thus, it is very important to change the pace or incline while using a treadmill. It can also be used for exercising in a pulse form that is starting slow, speeding a little, jogging and then again slowing. This cycle results in a burst of energy.
- Overdoing-In a sudden burst of motivation, one tends to use this machine for prolonged periods thinking to get better than best results. But, it is not so, overdoing any form of exercise cannot help. It will only result in high heart rate, muscle soreness and aches and pains in the body.
- Hunching forward-Many times, people tend to hunch forward when running on the treadmill. This is a wrong position and can have a harmful effect on the spinal cord. This happens when the body tries to maintain a balance but one must consciously try to stay erect.
- Holding bars-When running on incline, one tends to burn more calories but if you are hanging on the bars for support, the results may not be too enthusiastic. Thus, it is very important to run without holding bars on the incline.
- Taking long strides-It is strictly no-no to take long strides on a treadmill. Short steps will offer better results when it comes to calorie burning instead of long rides. Efficiency and form suffers when long strides are taken.
- Swinging arms-One must not wing out or swing arms or criss-cross them while running on the treadmill as it reduces efficiency. Arms must always to the sides till speed is built up.
- Sticking to one routine-Though, it is quite comforting following the same exercise routine on a treadmill day after day but the end result is far from satisfactory. It is very important to keep on changing routines to keep the body agile and perfect matching every change.
- Slapping feet-Muscle strain can occur if one lands on the treadmill flat foot. Back and hips also put pressure on the feet bringing a lot of pain and discomfort.
- Looking at the feet-While moving on the treadmill, one must always look straight. If you keep on looking at your feet, you may lose your balance and get a nasty fall. The entire body gets misaligned and the neck muscles also get strained.
- Wearing wrong shoes-When walking on a treadmill, it is very important to wear right kind of shoes which should be more functional rather than stylish. This way, heels and soles of the feet will stay protected.
