In some cases, weather conditions especially in winter with freezing temperatures make it difficult to leave the house. In other cases, it is more convenient to exercise at home. Hence many people plan to purchase a treadmill which allows them to conveniently exercise at home.
One of the major considerations while choosing the treadmill is the installation of the treadmill, the buyer should have enough space in his home for installation.
Specifically the buyer would like to find out how far should treadmill be from wall . Some of the main factors which affect the space required for the treadmill are discussed below.
Treadmills are available in different sizes and the features also differ. While the treadmill buyer can choose any type of treadmill, the dimensions of the rooms in the house are fixed.
So before searching for a treadmill, the buyer should finalize the room or place where he is likely to install the treadmill.
He should then measure the dimensions of the room, and check the dimensions of the treadmill which he wishes to purchase before choosing a suitable treadmill. The room should be large enough, so that he can comfortably use the treadmill, and some of the other factors which should be considered are listed.
Treadmills can be used for walking and running. Since the user is running at a higher speed compared to walking, the possibility of the accident is more while running. Though the manufacturers of the treadmill have incorporated a large number of safety features to prevent injuries to the user, the treadmill is an electro-mechanical device, and there is always a possibility of an accident. The manufacturer will usually incorporate an emergency shutoff cord to reduce injuries in case of an accident. Yet often the treadmill user may not install it, thinking that it is inconvenient.
Another major reason for treadmill accidents is fatigue. Some users are tired after working, and they may loose their balance, and fall. There are some cases, where the user is extremely tired, and becomes unconscious while using the treadmill. In a cases, the user may trip on the shoelaces of the shoes which he is wearing while exercising on the treadmill or slip off the treadmill. The extent of the injuries to the user will depend on the size, speed of the treadmill, and also the free space around it.
If there is plenty of free space, especially behind the treadmill, if the user will slip off the treadmill, he will fall on the floor. On the other hand, if the treadmill is installed very close to the wall or other hard object, the body of the user will hit against the hard wall, surface, resulting in greater injuries. Hence it is important to ensure that there is enough space behind the treadmill, so that the user who slips, trips or falls from the unit, will fall on the floor. If there is no space, the user will get wedged between the wall and the moving treadmill.
In some cases, if there is no clear space behind the treadmill, the user who has fallen may also suffer from third degree burns, if the belt of the treadmill spins against the skin at a high speed. The user also does not have the space to recover or get up after falling down. In some cases, the user may lose his balance or control and is thrown off the treadmill. If there is enough free space, he will be able to regain his footing. So ideally there should be at least six feet of free space between the rear of the treadmill and the wall, to reduce accidents and injuries.
The six feet gap between the wall and treadmill is highly recommended if a taller person who is approximately 6 feet in height is using the treadmill, and he is using it for running at a higher speed. Treadmill users who have less space available in the room, are shorter in height, and are using the treadmill mainly for walking may be able to keep a four feet gap between the treadmill rear, and the wall. It is also advisable to check the treadmill manufacturers guidelines for installation of the treadmill, before finalizing the location of the treadmill in the room.
