Treadmill technology has progressed slowly over many years. The display has been enhanced with touch screens and features similar to those of a TV. But the platform and the tape have stayed the same. So far, the curved treadmill represents a technological leap and they are still quite new.
This type of treadmill is not usually used by the majority of users who go to the gym to run. However, lovers of functional training, HIIT and CrossFit take advantage of its existence to introduce powerful cardio sessions. Is it really better than the normal treadmill?
What is it?
They are called curves because of the shape of the roof. All models have a special curve that has been extensively researched to find the optimal shape. Because of the way they work, they need to have the curve. The treadmill is also usually different and not like normal treadmills.
The tape is usually made of "ribbons". It can't be like a normal tape that we find in the other types. There are very small gaps between each slat to allow the curve to rotate while exercising. This belt has benefits because it behaves more like outdoor running than a motorized treadmill.
Basically, on this treadmill your foot lands on the front of the machine, so the downward force drives the treadmill because it's on a slight incline. This happens with each foot strike, so the treadmill may speed up or slow down as we do so. It's all very smart.
As your foot moves along the platform with your normal stride, it reaches the point where you need to push off your toes. The middle is at the bottom of the curve and the front and back have the top edges. The fact that we push ourselves from the edge makes the movement very ergonomic.
Services
Using the curved treadmill can bring numerous benefits, beyond trying a new training machine.
burn calories faster
According to its creators, we can burn 30% more calories on a curved treadmill. Scientists who measured the physiological intensity of a standard motorized treadmill compared to a non-motorized curved treadmill reported stronger results from the latter.
Due to this higher intensity, curved treadmills are perfect for high intensity interval training (HIIT). We will increase the heart rate faster and maintain it, increasing the need for oxygen and helping to burn more calories than regular aerobic exercise.
Activate more muscle groups
Since we don't have to push to propel ourselves forward, traditional treadmills don't actually engage the entire leg. Curve machines, on the other hand, force your legs to drive from the start, activating everything from your glutes to your hamstrings to get the machine going.
We also can't just flip a switch up to control running speed; we can only increase the pace by training more.
It is less harmful to the joints
We don't have to sacrifice running to save our knees. A curved rubber surface helps absorb shock to joints and connective tissue, preventing injuries often associated with hitting the ground. Standard treadmills aren't designed to absorb this shock, which means your joints are more prone to wear and tear over time.
Ideal for HIIT and Sprints
Curved treadmills allow us to accelerate super fast and reach a higher top speed almost instantly, so we can push ourselves harder. HIIT workouts and sprints also require you to slow down quickly. Slowing down on a curved treadmill is just as natural and quick as slowing down by running outside.
Regular treadmills are very bad because they slow you down quickly. When we're running at incredibly high speed, sometimes to exhaustion, we simply don't have the air or energy left to wait for a motorized treadmill to slow down so quickly, let alone the coordination to hit the slow down button. on the panel. The curved treadmill is the perfect cardio machine for doing a HIIT cardio workout at home. All of these factors work together to make curved treadmills a perfect storm for HIIT and sprints.
Disadvantages
Curved treadmills are machines very basic. No fancy screens showing training stats in various colors with nice charts and graphs. There are no training programs like a multi-level weight loss routine to track progress like with regular treadmills. There's also no fitness test button to see how healthy we are, and no incline.
Screens are worse than that. They are basic and only have speed, distance and time. This can be disappointing, as they are made for elite runners who only need basic information.
On the other hand, if we like to do long, slow runs where we let our mind wander while our body does its thing, a curved treadmill may disappoint. Even walking is a bit more difficult on a curved treadmill than on a flat motorized one.
Differences with a normal tape
Curved treadmills are more like manual treadmills. They don't work with electricity and there is no motor to turn the belt. The athlete has to drive the belt by himself.
Aside from appearance, the most obvious difference is the speed. There is almost no limit to how fast we can go. We are not dictated by the speed of an engine, only by how fast we can propel ourselves.
It is also said that burns 30% more of calories on a curved treadmill. It just means it's 30% harder than a normal treadmill. However, you can make a normal treadmill 30% harder, run or walk 30% harder, go 30% faster, or use incline.
Another difference is that no tilt and, for that reason, it cannot simulate a section of incline or a race. Slopes are fantastic in other ways, they can turn a normal walk into a calorie-burning aerobic routine. This is great for older or overweight people who can't run and want to improve their health and lose weight.