Why Curved Treadmills? – The benefits, FAQ’s, and the best ones

The curved treadmill is a treadmill with a curved track, and it is gaining popularity nowadays. This may be because of the benefits this type of treadmill offer over other types.

Here are 10 benefits of a curved treadmill

More Natural Gait

When you walk or run on a curved treadmill, it in itself is like getting into a natural gait. It’s very similar to the stride and movement that we would make in the outdoors when we’re out for a jog.

This means that there’ll be less strain and stress on your body while you exercise with this type of treadmill.

Weight-Bearing Exercise

As we age, we become weaker and the bones in our body become brittle and easily prone to fractures. By walking or running on a curved treadmill, you can be weight-bearing, which strengthens the muscles and bones in your entire body, and this is even more beneficial for those who have osteoporosis.

It’s A Great Workout For The Glutes And Hamstrings

Most people have tight, weak glutes and hamstrings, which can cause pain or injury to the lower part of their body. However, when you walk or run on a curved treadmill, it forces your legs to work harder because of the curves, which helps to strengthen these muscles, thus preventing injuries.

There Would Be Less Impact On The Joints And Spine

One of the main reasons why people are developing osteoarthritis or arthritis is because of their lack of exercise and too much weight gain. By walking or running on a curved treadmill, there will be less impact on the joints and spine, which means that you can exercise without too much strain on your lower body.

It’s An Effective Knee Strengthener

Having weaker knees is very common as we grow older. A great way to strengthen these joints is by walking or running on a curved treadmill because it forces your knees to work harder, which can help to prevent knee injuries and osteoarthritis.

Great For Those Who Have A Limited Walking Range

People who have a limited walking range or short gait due to pain or injury can benefit from a curved treadmill because it forces them to walk in a way that’s similar to the natural way we would walk or run in the outdoors. A curved treadmill can give people a new lease on life because it will allow them to walk and exercise independently without pain, injury, or getting tired easily.

It’s Easy On The Joints And Spine

One of the main benefits of a curved treadmill is that, since there are no sudden jerks or movements, it is easy on the joints and spine. People who are not able to go out often because of injuries can benefit from this type of treadmill because they wouldn’t have to exert too much effort in getting their heart rates up.

You Can Walk With Ease And Comfort

People who have arthritis or inflammation in their lower body can benefit from walking on a curved treadmill because it will allow them to walk with ease and comfort. Even those who are just starting out with exercising can use this type of treadmill without any problem since there’s no impact or stress on the joints.

Exercising Is More Enjoyable And Fun

When you exercise outdoors, there’s a lot of things that can affect your exercise routine, such as having to stop and start, going around corners, and taking the stairs. With a curved treadmill, all you have to do is walk or run without any distractions. This makes exercising more enjoyable and fun because it allows you to focus on what you’re doing.

Safe And Portable

A curved treadmill is also a safe and portable option for those who have knee issues because there’s no impact on the joints. This means that you can take it with you if you’re traveling, regardless of where you go. In fact, since this type of machine is not bulky or heavy, moving it from one room to another will not be a problem at all.

The top 10 rated portable curved treadmills

Assault Fitness AssaultRunner

Its features are – 3 hp motor, top speed of 16-24 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

it’s running surface is 42″ x 16″, it has 40 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 15 to 45-degree decline, 0 to 10-degree ramp incline. Presence of transport wheels and storage latch which allow easy storing. It also comes with a built-in heart rate monitor.

LifeSpan Fitness TR 1200i Folding Treadmill

Its features are – 2 hp continuous power, 3 hp peak power motor, top speed of 12-22 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 52″ x 20″, it has 40 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 12-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and durable deck. It also comes with a built-in cooling fan and a water bottle holder.

You can check it out on Amazon.com here

Sole Fitness F80 Folding Treadmill

Its features are – 3 hp motor, top speed of 18-25 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 55″ x 20″, it has 40 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 15-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and strong deck.

You can check it out on Amazon.com Here

NordicTrack Elite 9500 Pro Treadmill

Its features are – 3 hp motor, top speed of 18-24 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 56″ x 20″, it has 40 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 15-degree incline, 0 to 12-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and strong deck.

Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill

Its features are – 2 hp continuous power, top speed of 10-15 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 42″ x 16″, it has 10 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 12-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and strong deck.

Check it out on Amazon.com Here

ProForm 505 CST Treadmill

Its features are – 2.75 hp motor, top speed of 10-15 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 52″ x 20″, it has 10 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 12-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and collapsible deck with the safety cord.

ProForm Power 995 Treadmill

Its features are – 4 hp motor, top speed of 12-16 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 55″ x 20″, it has 10 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 12-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and collapsible deck with the safety cord. It also comes with a built-in cooling fan.

PROFORM POWER 995 Treadmill

Its features are – 4 hp motor, top speed of 12-16 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 55″ x 20″, it has 10 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 12-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and collapsible deck with the safety cord. It also comes with a built-in cooling fan.

Tunturi T60 Treadmill

Its features are – 1 hp continuous power, a top speed of 20 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 55″ x 20″, it has 10 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 12-degree incline, 0 to 15-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and storage space.

NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill

Its features are – 3 hp continuous power, 4 hp peak power motor, top speed of 16-22 km/h for a 220 lbs person.

It’s running surface is 56″ x 20″, it has 40 levels of eddy current resistance, adjustable 1 to 15-degree incline, 0 to 12-degree decline. Presence of transport wheels and collapsible deck.

There are also other types of treadmills and more information on them through this link that will take you to the homepage.

FAQ’s

Is a curved treadmill harder?

The curved treadmill is not harder, provided that you adjust the belt tension properly.

Reasons why a curved treadmill be harder

A curved treadmill is a little bit harder to run on because of the elliptical effect which causes a shift in the runner’s balance forward as the treadmill belt pushes your leg back towards your body. This shift also means more stress on joints and muscles, so it’s important to start at low speed and proper belt tension before running in gradually up to max speed keeping good form throughout. If not adjusted properly, there is nothing unusual with a curved type of running surface.

What you should do if it is harder

Adjusting the belt tension properly will reduce the “elliptical” effect and minimize stress on your joints by making you feel like you’re running straight (unless you prefer a curved running experience – no problem there).

How to adjust the belt tension properly?

There are several ways to adjust the belt tension properly depending on how it is done with your treadmill. If you have an up/down arrow button on the machine, use them. Most modern treadmills allow for adjustment from the console during the workout too using either up/down arrows or by pressing quick start followed by speedup / slow down buttons. Please read your treadmill manual for specific instructions if in doubt.

Is a curved treadmill good for walking?

A curved treadmill is good for walking and here are some of the reasons:

1. Treadmill is good for walking because it is safer than walking on the street or in a neighborhood with less foot traffic.
2. It can make your walk more enjoyable, easier, and comfortable.
3. Treadmill is good if you’re trying to lose weight.
4. Instead of just standing around after dinner, it can be used to burn off calories while watching TV or listening to music.
5. Walking on a treadmill is good for active recovery after workouts that emphasize running or biking (but not swimming). It helps prevent overuse injuries by giving your lower body joints a rest from the impact associated with running but don’t push yourself so hard that you fatigue muscles needed in sports performance when not doing the respective sport.
6. It also helps improve your athletic abilities and makes you stronger by providing a challenging workout in both speeds and incline for the muscles of the body.
7. It is good for strengthening and toning your leg, hip, and glute muscles; improving stability; strengthening bones; enhancing balance; increasing flexibility (especially in the hips); reducing stress on the joints (such as knees).
8. Treadmill is good for walking keeping you fit when there isn’t much time to do much else such as when you’re traveling or stuck inside due to weather, injury, or other reasons.

How does a curved treadmill work?

The curved treadmill is a refined version of the traditional treadmill. The curved treadmill has an overall arc to it, which helps mimic running on more natural ground.

The mechanics behind this machine and how they work is relatively simple and easy to understand:

A belt spins underneath you as you run on it. This is similar to any other type of treadmill; however, the curve allows your feet to fall more naturally while running forward. While running forward, people typically lean slightly inwards; however, having such a strong curve causes them to lean outwards which requires more balance and coordination than just simply keeping yourself upright while you run straight on a flat surface.

Using this machine will give you some added benefits that aren’t found in ordinary treadmills such as the ability to work on your coordination, strengthen various leg muscles that are related to balance, and offer you a more tough workout.

There are handrails located around the treadmill which allow you to hold onto them while running to ensure stability. This helps improve core strength as well as other muscle groups, such as calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

The added benefit of holding onto these rails is that it prevents you from developing any bad habits regarding your stride pattern. By using this machine for extended periods of time, you will be able to run with better form rather than hunching over or taking short strides due to improper running technique.