Inclined Treadmills: The Uphill Battle

You're looking for a folding treadmill to help you stay in great shape. Most home treadmills offer variable inclines to let you make things harder on yourself. Why would you do that? A flat treadmill is a great place to start. Treadmills offer a consistent, smooth, obstacle-free workout. But some runners argue that a flat treadmill is less strenuous than outdoor running because it doesn't offer any wind resistance. You could set a big fat fan to blow in your face to compensate, but a better choice is to raise your incline to 1%. That's about enough to equal it out, because now you are running slightly uphill. Nice Joint Why make it harder on yourself? In this case, an uphill battle is a good thing, protecting your joints. Running is a very repetitive motion, and the longer you do it the more you risk wearing out knees, hips, and feet. Raise your incline a bit and you'll get a stronger workout in less time, with a slower pace and fewer steps. Less wear and tear. As inclines approach 10% and beyond, you notice more than the lung-pumping workout. You'll feel a satisfying stretch in your calves and Achilles tendon, because now you are leaning a bit forward. Your lower back works harder, keeping you upright. (You're not leaning on your hands, are you? If you are, knock it off). A stronger lower back means better posture all day, and a flatter stomach too, as your back muscles work in balance with your abs. Flatter stomach? Now we're getting somewhere!

The Walking Wounded
Here's a surprise: the stronger workout is also good for people recovering from injuries. Painful heel pointers are relieved because, as incline increases, your weight shifts off your heels to your toes. The slower, harder pace keeps you under control and in balance, ideal for people recuperating from any leg disability.

Are there any disadvantages to running uphill? Not really, except it's harder. You don't want to exhaust yourself too quickly, or make it so hard that it isn't fun anymore. If it's too steep, you'll lose your inclination, so to speak.

Beam Me Up
Most inexpensive portable treadmills offer inclines from 0-12%. Most are adjusted manually, which means you have to stop and get off to change it. As you spend more, you can expect inclines to rise up to 15%, and you'll notice the option of motorized adjustment: push a button and up you go, even while you're running. Besides being fun, it lets you create a varied, up and down workout that simulates the real world, only without the car exhaust, catcalls, and dog-doo.

If You're So Inclined
The holey-mole of incline treadmills is the incline trainer, designed specifically for hikers, climbers, and masochists. Nordic Trak, FreeMotion, and many others offer special machines that incline as high as 30%, which approaches the desire to climb on your hands and knees. The workout is specific, intense, and fantastic, but it's not cheap - you pay for the added angle and stability.

With a little common sense and self-awareness, you'll get nothing but good from an inclined Weslo treadmill workout. It's an uphill battle where you come out on top.