For historic usage see Treadwheel. The word Treadmill, originally a type of mill operated by a person treading steps of a wheel to grind grain now designates a piece of indoor sporting equipment for running without

A treadmill is a piece of indoor sporting equipment used to allow for the motions of running or walking while staying in one place. Running is a means for an animal to move on Foot. It is defined in Sporting terms as a Gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground Walking (also called ambulation) is the main form of Animal Locomotion on land, distinguished from Running and crawling The word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain (see treadwheel. A grinding mill is a Unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces The word Treadmill, originally a type of mill operated by a person treading steps of a wheel to grind grain now designates a piece of indoor sporting equipment for running without )

The principle is a belt system (an electric motor or flywheel connected to a circular run of material) where the top of the belt moves to the rear so as to allow a runner to run an equal, and necessarily opposite speed. A belt conveyor consists of two or more Pulleys with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them An electric motor uses Electrical energy to produce Mechanical energy. A flywheel is a mechanical device with significant Moment of inertia used as a storage device for Rotational energy. Thus the speed of the run can easily be set or measured (the rate at which the belt moves is the rate at which the runner moves). The more expensive, heavy-duty versions are motor-driven. The simpler, lighter, cheaper versions are passive, moving only when the walker pushes the belt with their feet, and operates just to resist the motion.

Contents 1 Origins 2 Advantages 3 Disadvantages 4 Other uses 5 Omnidirectional treadmill 6 See also 7 References

Origins

Treadmills were historically used as a method of reforming offenders in prison, an innovation introduced by Sir William Cubitt in 1817. } Sir William Cubitt (1785-1861 was an eminent English Civil engineer and Millwright. ^[1]; these were also termed treadwheels. The word Treadmill, originally a type of mill operated by a person treading steps of a wheel to grind grain now designates a piece of indoor sporting equipment for running without The first private health club in the U. S. was started by Professor Louis Attila in 1894. Cardio workout machines entered the clubs much later and were developed initially for the hospital. The first medical treadmill designed to diagnose heart and lung disease was invented by Dr. Robert Bruce and Wayne Quinton at the University of Washington in 1952. Robert Arthur Bruce ( November 20, 1916, Somerville Massachusetts &mdash February 12, 2004, Seattle, Washington was an Dr. Kenneth Cooper's research on the benefits of aerobic exercise, published in 1968, provided a medical argument to support the commercial development of the home treadmill and exercise bike. Kenneth H Cooper (born 1931 is an MD and former Air Force Colonel from Oklahoma

Advantages

As a cardiovascular exercise:

• Running or walking on a treadmill can be an effective way to work out, like other complex cardiovascular exercises (similar to non-treadmill walking/running). As with all exercise, regular treadmill use increases endurance. Endurance (also called sufferance) is the ability for humans to exert themselves through aerobic or Anaerobic exercise for relatively long periods of time
• Treadmills offer the benefit of reduced impact since all treadmills offer some sort of shock absorption. Exercising on a treadmill can reduce the strain to the ankles, knees and lower back of users.

As an indoor activity:

• Users who would not run/walk outdoors (e. g. due to unfavourable weather conditions, uneven road surfaces, dangerous neighbourhoods or unwanted attention) may use an indoor treadmill.
• Users who do not wish to join a gym may use an indoor treadmill at home.
• Users can do other things while exercising, such as watching television or reading.

As a machine:

• Enables exact calculation and adjustment of slope and speed. Slope is used to describe the steepness incline gradient or grade of a straight line.
• As most of the factors of the activity are known, the energy expended may be calculated.
• Some treadmills have special features such as step count, heart rate monitors, amount of calories expended.

Disadvantages

• Many users find treadmills boring and lose interest after a period.
• Cost of purchase and electricity to run the treadmill is significantly greater than running outside.
• Takes up space in homes (disadvantage reduced by "folding treadmill" option).
• May cause personal injury if not used properly.
• Can make a loud grinding noise if the belt keeps slipping.
• Lack of wind resistance makes running on a treadmill easier than it would otherwise be on an equal elevation grade outdoors. Training for outdoor races is complicated due to the subtle differences.
• There is little need to propel yourself on a treadmill, making running easier and therefore not giving you an accurate representation of running on the ground. This can be a disadvantage when training for outdoor races.
• Ordinary treadmills, even the expensive models at gyms and clubs, are not usually able to tilt at the steep slopes used on medical treadmills for standardized stress tests.
• Imposes a strict pace on runners, giving an unnatural feel to running which can cause a runner to lose balance.
• As with all forms of cardiovascular exercise, the risk of cardiac arrest is significantly increased. Aerobic exercise refers to Exercise that involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body A cardiac arrest, also known as cardiorespiratory arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of Treadmills may further this risk, as indoor comforts, such as air conditioning, may cause a user to feel more comfortable and less likely to stop due to exhaustion. The term air conditioning refers to the cooling and dehumidification of indoor air for Thermal comfort.

Other uses

As it is basically a conveyor belt, the treadmill can be used for activities other than running. A belt conveyor consists of two or more Pulleys with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them If horses are being tested (especially in jockey racing) they will be put on a specially constructed treadmill. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. Large treadmills can also accommodate cars.

Omnidirectional treadmill

Main article: Omnidirectional treadmill

Advanced applications are so called omnidirectional treadmills. An omnidirectional treadmill, or ODT is a device that allows a person to perform locomotive motion in any direction They are designed to move in two dimensions and are intended as the base for a "holodeck". There are several solutions which were proposed and research continues because some issues remain unsolved until now such as large size, noise and vibration. ^[2][3][4]

See also

• Naturmobil

References

The Naturmobil is a Horse -powered vehicle for travel on paved Roads The vehicle is controlled by a driver in a similar way to a motor-driven vehicle with the horse

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