While many seniors consider their leisure years to be a time for relaxation, exercise and cardiovascular activities are still important. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most older adults should participate in at least 3.5 hours of aerobic activity per week.
Walking is one of the best low-impact exercises to help seniors stay fit. A treadmill is an excellent option for achieving fitness goals. If you are looking for a treadmill designed for the senior walker, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill is a top choice.
Exercise priorities for seniors differ from those of young people. Seniors should be concerned with staying in form without risking injury. They should therefore look for treadmill features suited to their goals.
If you are a senior, consider these treadmill factors:
Although the treadmill is an exceptional piece of equipment for getting exercise indoors, it is inherently unstable. It presents a risk of injury to a user if some necessary precautions are not taken.
Safety features are an essential part of any treadmill for anyone but even more so for seniors. If you have difficulty with balance, you need a treadmill with long handrails for support and a stop button that automatically shuts off the machine in an emergency.
Belt cushioning determines the comfort level for walking or running on a treadmill and reduces the chance of injury. For seniors, it can also help compensate for the natural loss of joint cushioning that occurs with age.
Treadmill cushioning varies from 15-40 percent softer than the road. Less cushioning is suitable for users training for road running, while softer is better for walkers.
High-end treadmills like the NordicTrack T Series and XTERRA Fitness TR150 feature excellent shock deflection. Some midpriced treadmills offer orthopedic cushioning, while the cushioning on cheap treadmills is usually poor.
Purchasing a treadmill with the appropriate motor size ensures your machine will perform well and last for years.
Treadmills built for residential use typically use motors ranging from 2-4 horsepower. A 2-horsepower motor is sufficient for walkers, 2.5-3 horsepower models work well for joggers, and 3-4 horsepower treadmills are ideal for runners.
The industry standard track lengths are 58-60 inches for running treadmills and 55 inches for treadmills designed for walking. The typical track width is 20 inches, but extra-wide treadmill tracks, usually 22 inches, are becoming more common. A senior planning to use a treadmill just for walking can still get good performance from a standard-sized track.
Some treadmill features may be more important to seniors than to younger users.
Before purchasing a treadmill, consider your fitness goals and select one that includes suitable training programs. The right exercise program can keep you interested and encourage you to achieve your objectives, like improving your heart’s health.
Seniors should look for walking workouts that become more challenging over time by increasing the rate, duration or incline.
Some treadmills offer heart rate monitoring by reading your heart rate using a pulse sensor on side rails, while others use a chest strap fitted with sensors. More advanced heart rate control systems will use input from a grip or chest band to vary the treadmill’s speed and incline.
For many seniors, simpler is better, and an easy-to-use control panel will encourage them to follow their exercise program. An adjustable panel with a large screen size and good visibility is easy to follow by seniors with eyesight impairments.
A folding treadmill has a small footprint when not in use, making it easy to store and ideal for an apartment or other small space.
A 10% max incline is usually available on many low-budget treadmills, while more expensive models offer more challenging inclines of up to 40 percent. A typical treadmill user burns 173.1 calories in 20 minutes at a 10 percent incline, but the same user burns an impressive 304.7 calories at a 40 percent incline.
Look for a tread belt with a two-ply thickness or more. The highest-quality treadmills include belts that are pre-lubricated or waxed with high-pressure synthetic compounds for extra cushioning and long wear.
Features that may be useful for seniors include a quiet treadmill motor, cooling fans and built-in speakers with Bluetooth connectivity.
Residential treadmill prices range from $150 to over $3,000, with an average price of about $575. Commercial-quality treadmills are more expensive.
A. While most treadmill owners use them for running and others for walking, most people purchase treadmills to avoid going outside for exercise.
A. As early as 2007, NordicTrack iFit and Google Maps partnered to bring street view to treadmills. The system automatically adjusted incline, decline and speed based on the natural terrain of the selected route.
A. On the treadmill indoors, you are stationary relative to the surrounding air, and no breeze flows past your body. You sweat more than outside and need more water to hydrate adequately.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
What you need to know: The comfort and safety features of the NordicTrack, including Runners Flex cushioning and side/front handrails, make it the best choice for seniors.
What you’ll love: The 10-inch HD touch screen displays clear and concise videos. A Bluetooth connection allows listening to the iFIT trainer and workout music without interruptions. The Fit mobile app provided access to iFIT’s interactive personal training, including about 50 workout apps with varying programs.
What you should consider: The machine is heavy, making it difficult to move, and customer service for the model 1750 is inferior to the support provided for some of Nordictrack’s other products.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
What you need to know: The TR150 is an excellent choice if you are on a budget, if it’s your first treadmill or if you need a folding model to save space.
What you’ll love: A large 16 -by 50-inch running/walking surface and 235-pound support capacity accommodates users of different sizes. The TR150 uses EKG heart rate grips instead of the less expensive thumb plate option. The 2.25 horsepower motor provides more than sufficient power for walking.
What you should consider: The machine has only a minimum incline, barely above walking on a flat surface. It lacks an automatic power off, and turning it off requires hitting a switch on the back.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7857 Treadmill
What you need to know: The SF-T7857 design is ideal for seniors with its low step-up height and shock absorption technology in the deck that reduces the impact on joints when walking or jogging.
What you’ll love: The 2.5 horsepower motor drives the belt between 0.6-5 miles per hour, and a wide deck measuring 58 by 29 by 53 inches is suitable for large users up to 295 pounds. The multi-grip handrails help maintain balance.
What you should consider: The assembly may be challenging, and the 123-pound treadmill weight is too heavy for some seniors to move.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jeff Harper writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
