Treadmills: Then and Now

Treadmill mania first broke out in 1875, when the contraption was invented for the purpose of making butter. Yes, butter.

The treadmill was originally intended to be run on by dogs and sheep in order to power the farmers’ butter churns. Larger treadmills were made for horses to run on. These versions were used to power the threshing machines that separated grain from husks.

77 years went by before two innovative medical professionals came up with the first treadmill for human use. In 1952 cardiologist Robert Bruce teamed with Wayne Quinton to develop a treadmill test that would support the evaluation of human heart and lung performance. Quinton sold his interest to Stairmaster which later sold it to Nautilus, but we observe that the name Quinton is stamped on such modern-day treadmills as the one residing in the White House Fitness Center.

The 1960s brought us the first affordable home treadmill. Mechanical engineer Bill Staub developed and sent a prototype to Dr. Ken Cooper of Aerobics, Inc. and that led to full-scale production of the legendary PaceMaster.

So the treadmill industry was off and running into a future of ever-improving technology. Mechanically controlled treadmills would evolve toward computerized, automated machines with all sorts of bells and whistles. Treadmill surfaces would also see important improvements, most notably the leap from the usual conveyor belt to Woodway’s revolutionary surface that makes you feel like you’re running on a softly covered path in a forest. The idea came from German technician Willi Schoenberger in 1974 and spawned Woodway Treadmills, which became the largest manufacturer of specialized treadmills in the world.

Top Three Tips for Treadmill Selection

Manual treadmills have too many disadvantages. Mostly, they’re just too hard to work and the next thing you know, your treadmill is in mothballs. Opt for a treadmill with a 1.5 to 2.5 HP “continuous duty-rated” motor, and preferably DC because it’s quieter.

Your ideal treadmill should have easily adjustable, programmable incline and speed along with at least a pulse monitor. The bells and whistles might include such items as plugins to workout videos and DVDs.

Be sure the treadmill gives you a smooth, stable ride when you test it with your running/walking shoes on. The surface should be large enough for your stride and the handrails should be sturdy.

Of all the exercise gear there is, you can’t beat the treadmill for benefiting your heart, lungs, circulatory system, muscles and bones while substantially promoting fat loss, healthy cholesterol and healthy blood pressure levels. And of course, treadmills are for folks of all ages.