Treadmills, more than any other type of exercise equipment, cause the most accidents, according to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Over 24,400 treadmill injuries were handled in emergency rooms in 2014, according to the data (the last year data was released).
Common Treadmill Injuries
What is your treadmill risk level? You never know. Runners place a high focus on preventing injury. Getting injured not only reduces the amount of time you have to focus on your fitness objectives, but it may also be extremely painful, frustrating, and expensive.
Running on a beautiful day can be hard to beat for many people, especially for those who enjoy the experience of lacing up and hitting the pavement. The coming of winter, on the other hand, will see an increase in the number of people running on treadmills. Those days when it’s cold, rainy, or snowing? Yeah, that’s what they’re for.
As far as I know, they’re less hazardous than a treadmill or a running track.
More than 400,000 Americans are treated every year on average for injuries caused by exercise equipment, according to statistics. Treadmills, more than any other piece of exercise equipment, cause the most accidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Over 24,400 treadmill injuries were handled in emergency rooms in 2014, according to the data (the last year data was released). The most prevalent treadmill injuries, according to this study, are those caused by falls, sprains, and strains.
Make sure you don’t allow these facts deter you from your goal.
Preventing Treadmill Injuries
Running on a treadmill can result in a variety of problems, including knee, patellofemoral, and achilles tendon pain.
Typically, patellofemoral discomfort is caused by an increased load on the femur and kneecap due to overuse. Injuries to the Achilles tendon are frequently caused by overuse and can be a long-term problem for runners. Both injuries can lead to long-term instability and pain if they are not corrected.
Prevent injury by following these guidelines before you begin your run.
- Stretches and range-of-motion exercises help warm up tense muscles and increase blood flow to the area.
- After your run, spend two to five minutes calming down at a slower pace.
- Run with a straight back and shoulders. You should keep your shoulders tucked in and your arms loose (never text and run). Stumbling can be caused by leaning forward and holding on to the front bar.
- Gradually increase distance and intensity. Avoid increasing your weekly distance by more than 10% per week as a solid rule of thumb
- To avoid overuse injuries, vary the speed and inclination of your workouts.
- Make sure you’re wearing running shoes with enough shock absorption. Running shoes often need to be replaced after 300-500 kilometres of use.
- Observe what your body tells you. Be aware of your own limitations and apply common sense while making decisions.
Treadmill users at home can benefit from a few basic but critical safety precautions, according to Consumer Reports’ safety experts. In the event that you fall and the treadmill belt continues to turn, you’ll become trapped between the treadmill’s rollers and the wall.
On either side of the treadmill, you’ll need a few feet of space, and then at least six feet behind the treadmill, so that you can get away if you fall.
In addition, Consumer Reports advises the following safety measures:.
- To avoid being thrown to the ground, keep your weight on the treadmill belt until it begins to move.
- Make sure you keep your head up and don’t look down at your feet while you move.
- The safety clip should be used at all times. An attached thread pulls out the safety key, which stops the moving belt in the event of a fall.
- Wait until the treadmill belt has come to a complete stop before exiting.