What is an unpowered treadmill?
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An is a treadmill that does not require electricity. Compared with traditional electric treadmills, its curved treadmill surface places higher demands on users. This is a better choice for those who want to start naturally on their own. There are some brands on the market today, and these brands all promise: to provide a comfortable running experience and provide better sports effects.
This type of self-driving treadmill allows you to run naturally on the treadmill, pushing your body forward to generate kinetic energy to drive the running belt of the treadmill. Compared with an electric treadmill, this running method can exercise more muscle groups.
In summary, an unpowered treadmill has a multi-purpose multifunctional aerobic exercise equipment:
Aerobic training
Anaerobic power (maximum speed training, sprint training, speed training, interval training)
Rehabilitation exercise
Like any treadmill, different treadmills have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you use an unpowered treadmill, it should be noted that the unpowered treadmill is a running training option and cannot replace an electric treadmill. It should be a supplement to treadmill training. Unpowered treadmills are very suitable for athletes who like natural treadmills. Rehabilitation therapists are also exploring the application of unpowered treadmills in rehabilitation training.
Working principle of unpowered treadmill
The mechanical principle of an unpowered track mechanical treadmill is based on gravity, friction and the application of force during running. In the process of kicking the legs backward and downward, the treadmill crawler is curved, and the treadmill crawler can be driven backward by the weight of the foot and the body. Because the foothold of the unpowered treadmill is relatively forward at this time, you will feel that the treadmill has a different experience in supporting the body when running.
This kind of subtle experience is invisible to the naked eye, but it is enough to make the exerciser's body bear the vertical reaction force from the ground. People who often treadmills will have an experience that when entering a curve to run, the athlete will feel the pressure on the legs caused by the vertical ground reaction force is reduced. However, due to the unique design of the unpowered track mechanical treadmill, it is difficult to accurately measure the force on the treadmill on the unpowered treadmill, because the force plate is usually relatively large and flat, so it is impossible to measure the force on the treadmill. The force of the dynamically curved running belt is measured.
The key to a good non-powered crawler treadmill is to maximize the use of the bearings under the running belt to reduce the horizontal friction of the foot on the running belt and reduce the way people shoot. The ideal situation is that the earlier the pedaling process, the less friction, the more effective the exercise of the muscles. Technically speaking, you hardly need to use horizontal force when running at maximum speed, because most speed is generated by vertical force, but in the process of running forward, the hip joint uses the horizontal force to the greatest extent. The debate about which force is more important for speed has fallen to the ground, because recent research clearly shows that to achieve the most efficient sprint run, all three forces must be balanced.
An unpowered treadmill is very suitable for running at a constant speed, but the experience when accelerating is really mediocre. In fact, there are only a few treadmills that can really bring real benefits to short sprint sprints.
The reason is simple: the nature of acceleration is to push the force behind you when the human body is tilted. At the same time, the body's nervous system is very magical, which will ensure that you will not fall on your face and face. Therefore, most treadmills suitable for accelerated running are mostly inclined.
Because some unpowered treadmills use ropes, the runner's exercise mode will be artificially changed. This is a great choice to experience sled training.
So, what are the reasons for using unpowered tracked mechanical treadmills? Green and environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. Anyone who works in gyms or commercial gyms all year round knows how painful it is to always face the maintenance service of treadmills and angry customers. In addition to helping to reduce power consumption and provide reliability, unpowered treadmills also use the strength of each step of the exerciser to create a more natural running experience, because the constant speed belt of the electric treadmill reduces the exercise of some runners. Experience.
Of course, if you want to start quickly, an unpowered treadmill is not a good tool for acceleration. Vertical running looks good, but running training needs to be seen more comprehensively, and try to run in different environments (especially on grass or track). Can it really help teaching? Can it help regulate the different states of the motor neuromuscular system?
Treadmill running is about adjustment, not just for maximum speed. Technically, any training performed by athletes contributes to their success, but there is still a difference between the maximum sprint run on the track and the sprint run on an unpowered treadmill.
Comparison of unpowered treadmill and electric treadmill
Advantages of non-powered track mechanical treadmill
In general, unpowered treadmills are very useful for exercise, and the mode of rehabilitation training is still in the exploratory stage.
1. The unpowered treadmill can ignite more muscle groups and consume more energy
Due to the propulsion technology required to push the running belt forward (similar to running outdoors), an unpowered treadmill uses more muscles (hips and hamstrings) throughout the run. By minimizing the vertical displacement of the human body on an unpowered treadmill, energy consumption will increase accordingly. Run more naturally and burn more calories. The design encourages you to run with the sole of your forefoot, which reduces the impact on your joints and improves running performance. Due to the need to run at an ergonomically correct angle, there are more core muscles combined with the backbone of the body. This will force you to maintain the correct posture, otherwise you will lose your balance and affect running.
Facts have proved that the average calorie consumption of an unpowered track mechanical treadmill is 30-40% higher than that of a flat electric treadmill.
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, this is indeed the case.
Researchers from the School of Sports Rehabilitation and Exercise Science at the University of Essex recruited 13 male runners whose average speed of 5 kilometers was 20 minutes or less. They allowed the runners to complete four treadmill runs in two weeks. The first is to run to exhaustion in order to obtain a defined baseline of each runner's maximum heart rate, speed, and oxygen uptake. This run was done on a standard electric treadmill set at a 1% incline.
In the second round, after the participants are familiar with the unpowered treadmill: perform a 4-minute interval treadmill at five different speeds (respectively 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% of their individual) , There is a recovery time of 3 minutes between each interval.
In the last two tests, they respectively completed the second interval running on an unpowered tracked mechanical treadmill and a standard electric treadmill. At the last minute of each interval, the researchers measured the runners’ oxygen uptake, breath exchange rate, cadence, and heart rate, and asked the runners to evaluate their perception abilities.
Researchers found that, similar to the manufacturer’s statement, runners did indeed improve by about 30% on unpowered treadmills. The runners felt that they worked an average of 27% faster when running on an unpowered treadmill, and their symptoms were physiologically commensurate: they consumed an average of 32% more oxygen, their heart rate increased by 16%, and their running speed Increased by 2.5%.
2. Self-powered and easy to use
Since the unpowered treadmill is completely powered by the user, it is easy and quick to get started. We recommend that you walk on these treadmills before accelerating to get used to this running mode.
3. Safer than traditional electric treadmills
The running platform of the treadmill has greater grip, because the running surface is fundamentally different from the running belt on a traditional treadmill. Those traditional electric treadmills use cotton and nylon belts. Unpowered treadmills that never use power supply have no fire hazard and are safer to use in your gymnasium.
4. No need for electricity to save costs
So your operating costs will be reduced, thereby saving electricity bills.
5. Long service life and easy maintenance
Compared with traditional treadmills, non-powered track mechanical treadmills have a longer service life because it has no electric parts. If regular maintenance is carried out on a regular basis, the maintenance cost will be kept to a minimum throughout the life of the machine.
Disadvantages of unpowered track mechanical treadmill
If the athlete needs a different way of running than traditional running, the device can be used as a speed substitute or alternative running method. An unpowered treadmill cannot provide the vertical force oscillations necessary to help replicate the development of maximum speed, nor can it provide the acceleration posture necessary for short sprints.
You will have to decide whether an unpowered arc treadmill is suitable for your situation. I firmly believe that they are of great value to the general fitness crowd. They are an interesting choice for casual runners, a creative intermittent choice for running competitions, and in some cases may be beneficial to sprinters. Useful. Scientists need to do more research to catch up with this technology, but unpowered treadmills are popular and their uses are growing.
How to use an unpowered treadmill for training?
The unpowered track mechanical treadmill can be used like a traditional treadmill. From sprint intervals to slower steady-state runs, anything can happen. The best three training methods for an unpowered arc treadmill:
Sprint training
Sprint interval training is an ideal form of exercise because there is no electric motor in the treadmill. This means that users can start their sprint interval very quickly, without having to wait for the treadmill motor to rotate the belt to a certain speed before sprinting.
Running fast, with the help of an unpowered treadmill, you can adjust your pace to imitate the road or track. Since they have no speed limit, they are an excellent choice for elite athletes who require speeds faster than the maximum speed of any commercial electric treadmill.
Group and high-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Summarize
Obviously, compared with traditional electric treadmills, unpowered arc treadmills provide many advantages for users and gymnasium owners. This type of treadmill has a wide range of uses, can provide many legitimate training purposes, and is environmentally friendly. We are not saying that it will replace the traditional treadmill, but in any training program and aerobic exercise field, it can be tied with it in an important position.
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