How To Maintain Proper Treadmill Form

17 December, 2014

Running

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Keeping correct form is really important when doing any kind of exercise for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, it can help prevent you from getting injuries, but it can also improve the quality of your workout, which means you’re going to burn more calories and give your muscles more exercise. Running on a treadmill is quite similar to running anywhere else, and you’ll want to keep the same body shape. However, there are some differences that you’ll need to be aware of.

Keep Your Distance

The main issue is that, you can often find yourself up too close to the front of the treadmill. This is a problem for two reasons. Firstly, it can make things more dangerous, as you can potentially end up tripping. Secondly, it gives you less room to move, which means that you can’t take big strides.

One of the easiest ways of preventing this is to concentrate more on your body and your running. Those who end up close to the front of the machine tend to also be the ones that spend most of their time preoccupied with watching the clock on the wall, or even the gym’s TV. If you’re not paying attention, you’re far more likely to end up creeping forwards.

Chin Up

Another problem with treadmills is that the motion of the belt can encourage people to lean forward too much, or even hunch their shoulders over while jogging. This is not good form, and can easily result in cramps and pains later, because it’s not a natural running position.

Again, the best thing to do is take a little time at the start of your workout to concentrate on what you’re doing, and how you’re holding your body. Try to relax yourself as much as possible, as this will keep your shoulders dropped and free to swing as they should. Also be conscious of how upright you are. Some people like to imagine there is a piece of string attached to the top of their head gently pulling them up – this can help keep you properly upright rather than leaning forward.

So there you have it. All of the form you’ll have learned from regular running should be carried over to using the treadmill, but you need to be aware that the treadmill isn’t exactly the same as being outside, and it’s the little differences that can knock you out of form.

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About Paul Stainthorpe

Running has been part of my life since 2011. While growing up I hated running and would do anything to avoid it at school. Give me a ball and a racket any day. It’s funny how some things change. I run for good. In 2012 I ran the 12 Days of Christmas for the Percy Hedley Foundation. In 2013 I attempted (with friend Lee Nyland), the 12 parkruns of Christmas for the Tiny Lives Trust.