Walking Under Water with Aquatic Treadmills
Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009
by Kevin Urban
Aerobic exercises, such as walking and jogging in water with an aquatic treadmill, can be a very effective form of exercise. Water aerobics, in particular, are easy on the joints and offer a great fitness alternative for people who have been injured or have limiting disabilities. Water provides 14 to 16 times the resistance as that of air, allowing a higher intensity workout in less time, and with less aches and pains afterwards, than does traditional exercise.
There are many models of aquatic treadmills available. Some are portable and can be assembled quickly and easily when needed. Others are a permanent fixture in specially designed swimming pools. Popular brands include Pool Therapy, Aquabilt, and SwimEx.
One company, Pool Therapy offers two models of pool treadmills: the Aquatic Therapy Treadmill and the Aquatic Fitness Treadmill. These treadmill brands are meant to be left in the user's swimming pool for frequent use. They are not motorized and are made from water resistant and non-corroding materials, so that they require very little maintenance. The non-motorized belt starts and stops with the user, and speeds and slows according to the user's pace. This allows for an easy and personalized workout without the need for operating dials or setting speeds. These treadmills also offer specially designed handlebars for performing leg lifts, crunches, and other under water aerobic exercises.
The Aquabilt Aquatic Treadmill is a lighter, more compact treadmill, which can be left under water in the pool or easily stored depending on the user's needs. Aquabilt treadmills are also not motorized, are made of water resisting non-corroding materials, and require no maintenance. The machine allows the user to incline the belt for a more versatile workout.
The SwimEx SPT Portable Underwater Treadmill is another non-motorized treadmill with no maintenance required. This model has a dual-sided platform with adjustments for different resistance levels. When placed with the roller on the top side, the resistance is low for slow, even-paced walking. When flipped over, the resistance is increased for a more intense run. This model also has a unique flywheel system, which filters water in order to propel the belt according to the users pace, and a high-speed turbine that increases the resistance as the user's speed increases.
SwimEx also manufactures a specially designed Aquatic Exercise Pool that can be installed in a home or commercial setting. Accessories available include an integrated under water treadmill, which uses the same flywheel and turbine technology as the SPT portable underwater treadmill described above. The treadmill boasts a high traction belt surface and a removable handle bar. It is also equipped with a speed indicator, and a programmable monitor through which users can save programs with times and speed settings according to their needs.
A Unique Exercise Experience
The aquatic treadmill is becoming more and more popular with fans of aquatic exercise. It creates a unique exercise experience that is efficient and fun. Aquatic exercise allows the user to apply strength, aerobic, flexibility, and endurance exercises simultaneously, providing a shorter and more effective workout time. Working out in the water can raise the heart rate as much as running does, without the impact on one's joints from striking solid ground. Also, water cools the body's core temperature, so no matter how hot it is outside, the user stays cool and free of sweat. Adding an aquatic or under water treadmill to an exercise regiment allows the user to work the same muscles with more precision and intensity than they would without any equipment. It also adds a wider variety of exercises to their routine to target different muscles and areas of one's body.
Whether it's adding a treadmill to an aquatic exercise regiment or combining underwater exercise and treadmill running, the aquatic treadmill is a good way to raise the efficiency of any workout.
About the Author:
Kevin Urban is the chief editor at TreadmillTalk.com, the web's top address for home treadmill reviews. Find the best treadmill in your price range with our treadmill comparison charts.
Copyright 2009 TreadmillTalk.com
This Article has been viewed 944 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.