Understanding the Story of Treadmills

In the modern dynamic world, treadmills are identified as fitness tools that help users to stay in a stationary position and at the same time exercise through walking or running. In the traditional setting, treadmills were identified as devices that would be used to grind grain through the help a beast of burden or people. As such, a typical treadmill involves a moving platform that has a conveyor belt moving to the rear. It is assumed that the speed of the belt is equivalent to the rate of walking or running.

Institutional Treadmills

Some individuals tend to be confused by the concepts of treadmills and tread wheels. Be aware that in treadmills, individuals walk or run on a conveyor belt with the purposes of working out. On the other hand, a treadwheel can be used for the purposes of grinding grain or even powering cranes. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the treadwheel in their daily activities such as raising water in wells and in penal labor to punish prisoners. Treadmills also served this purpose until it was abolished in the late 1880s. The prisoner's reform tool that took the form of the modern treadmill was invented by William Cubitt in 1817.

The institutional treadmill was an economic invention as it came at a time when numerous works in England found themselves jobless after the wars of the Napoleon age. Since the authorities did not want convicts to take the already minimal jobs, they welcomed the idea of the treadmill.

Medical Treadmills

Treadmills have also been widely used in the medical field. The first purpose of the treadmill in healthcare was in the diagnosis of heart and lung conditions. The device responsible for this was invented by both Robert Brice and Wayne Quinton in 1952. This was in the University of Washington after a study by Kenneth Coopers was published with regards to the numerous benefits of aerobic exercise. In the current global setting, many health institutions such as physiotherapy clinics, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and even universities have treadmills for medical purposes.

Fitness Treadmills

Fitness treadmills came about with the sole purpose of boosting aerobic exercise. As a result, most fitness treadmills will have a cardio-mode which targets the heart rate. Such treadmills have the ability to automatically control the speed until you reach a heart rate steady rate. Most fitness treadmill brands will be available at online stores for both commercial and personal consumers. Make sure to read the numerous treadmill reviews before arriving at a purchase decision.

From the above, it is clear that the treadmill is a device that has numerous uses. It is not an old invention but boats of being around for approximately 150 years. Get the right type for your personal or business needs.