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- American College of Sports Medicine: Selecting and Effectively Using a Home Treadmill
- American College of Sports Medicine: Selecting and Effectively Using a Home Treadmill
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Maximum Speed of Treadmills
The maximum speed of treadmills varies according to its quality and purpose. The highest-end commercial treadmills used to train elite athletes top out at 25 mph, while the treadmills in your fitness center will reach speeds between 12 and 14 mph. A treadmill purchased for home use generally has a maximum speed of 10 to 12 mph.
Go as Fast as You Can
A less common, but inexpensive option is the manual treadmill. These are lighter and smaller than motorized variations -- the catch is, they only go as fast as you do. You may find it hard to get the belt moving initially, and the belt's movement tends to be less smooth than a motorized version. The belt does stop when you do, so you don't have to worry about road rash at 12-plus mph.
References
- American College of Sports Medicine: Selecting and Effectively Using a Home Treadmill
- LifeFitness: Discover SE Treadmill
- Smoliga JM, Hegedus EJ, Ford KR. Increased physiologic intensity during walking and running on a non-motorized, curved treadmill. Phys Ther Sport. 2015;16(3):262-7. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2014.09.001
- Edwards RB, Tofari PJ, Cormack SJ, Whyte DG. Non-motorized Treadmill Running Is Associated with Higher Cardiometabolic Demands Compared with Overground and Motorized Treadmill Running. Front Physiol. 2017;8:914. doi:10.3389/fphys.2017.00914
- Velazquez E. Is a non-motorized treadmill worth the investment? Muscle and Fitness.
- Fullenkamp AM, Tolusso DV, Laurent CM, Campbell BM, Cripps AE. A Comparison of Both Motorized and Nonmotorized Treadmill Gait Kinematics to Overground Locomotion. J Sport Rehabil. 2018;27(4):357-363. doi:10.1123/jsr.2016-0125
Writer Bio
Andrea Boldt has been in the fitness industry for more than 20 years. A personal trainer, run coach, group fitness instructor and master yoga teacher, she also holds certifications in holistic and fitness nutrition.