by Jim Brady

Created on: October 10, 2008   Last Updated: October 12, 2008

Treadmills are one of the greatest fitness inventions. What could be more valuable to the busy person who wants to begin a committed exercise routine than a machine he can keep in his own home that will allow him to get his 30 minutes or more of motion in every day regardless of weather?

Get Moving

The health benefits of a treadmill involve the whole body. Since the key to fitness is getting and staying in motion, treadmills are ideally suited to meeting all of your fitness goals. Runners love exercise treadmills because they can train fast or slow, do hill repetitions, take the weekly long run, all without leaving the room they're in. Any road condition and any pace can be simulated on an exercise treadmill, just by the touch of a screen. There is no wind to fight, no rain or cold to disrupt the workout schedule.

The All-In-One Home Gym

Treadmills take up little space, and are perfect for a den or storage room, garage or attic. They can be bought new or used, and their price will soon return its value in convenience and pricey gym memberships. With a treadmill, the returning athlete can gradually build up endurance and muscle tone, the competitive walker or runner can do precise training, and everyone can do so in privacy and comfort. As with any exercise, a medical checkup is advisable before starting, especially for new treadmill users. Since the constant pace of a treadmill can also cause foot, ankle, calf and shin strains if you overdo it, or your pace is too strenuous. Most treadmills, however, have easy-to-reach controls that will slow the pace or stop the machine entirely if a strain is felt.

Pricing

The internet is a great place to do research before buying a treadmill. There are numerous websites that will provide treadmill ratings, comparing the various brands and will also offer typical retail prices. They are available at large sporting goods chains, department stores and even wholesale outlets like Costco. Expect to pay between $200 - $500 for a new treadmill, depending upon the size, motor, and durability. ProForm, one of the leading exercise treadmill brands, sells a 2.25 horsepower treadmill that can reach 10 mph and a 10% incline, with a three-year warranty, for $499 at Sears. Consumerreports.org. and consumersearch.com are two of a number of websites that can provide objective ratings of the various treadmill brands on the market.

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