"discovering The Surprising History Of Treadmills"
As long as Americans have been eating, Americans have wanted to lose weight
. Thus, we have invented device after device to help us do so.
From stationary bikes, to elliptical machines, to stair steppers, perhaps the oldest of all is the treadmill. The Treadmill has remained one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment for fitness lovers throughout time.
Believe it or not, they were originally designed for animals! In order to accommodate the power needed at farms, these devices were designed to have dogs and sheep run on them to create power for mills and butter churners.
Larger devices were even designed in power threshing mills to accommodate horses. Incredibly, this started as early as 1875.
The first medical human-used device was not modified until 1952. It was invented by famed cardiologist Robert Bruce, who has been called the father of exercise cardiology.
He developed a standard test to diagnose and evaluate heart and lung disease, which used this very machine he had created. This was very revolutionary at the time, and earned him great credibility in the world of fitness, health, and cardiology.
As they realized this machine had incredible health benefits, they decided there needed to be a more user-friendly, smooth modification. Several companies took on the challenge to create the "best" treadmill of the time.
Tunturi, a bicycle repair shop based in Finland, decided to come up with their own version in the early 1960's. They created a very successful and popular piece of equipment.
In the late 1960's, a mechanical engineer named Ben Staub noticed that these machines were much too expensive and uncomfortable. He decided to take a stab at creating his own better machine.
He did succeed in building a more affordable piece. He sent his prototype to Dr. Ken Cooper, an aerobic expert at the time, and together they sold several hundred through the doctor's recommendations alone.
Dr. Cooper's company, Aerobics, Inc, began full production of Ben Staub's design. They have since grown into an award winning pro-series, which features computerized and automated controls.
The next company to answer the challenge was Woodway, in 1974. Willi Shoengerger, a technical director in charge of planning a fitness center, decided that treadmills were still not comfortable enough for human needs, and interfered with the natural bio-mechanics of running and walking.
He decided to create the feel of running on a soft pine needle-covered forest path, and called it "Wald Weg," or "way of the woods." The license to manufacture these machines were given to Japan in 1983, and the United States in 1988.
NASA even got in on the action. The space program seized the opportunity to make use of these convenient machines in their Skylab. Their first model was essentially a Teflon-coated plate that allowed the feet to slide as an astronaut ran in place with bungee cord tethers.
Trackmaster, which began in 1978, decided to create machines which became widely regarded as the benchmark for quality and cost efficiency. They were very tough and durable, and very popular with gyms and other fitness institutions.
The last of that time, the company Star Trac combined computer technology with their treadmills. They were clever enough to exchange workout data with Palm OS handhelds. This opened up many different possibilities that had not been explored before.
With this introduction, came custom-made workout regimens and even downloadable programs from their website, which professionally-designed workouts based on individual fitness goals.
Since then, companies have added luxurious upgrades to machines, such as electronic heart rate monitors which will help you to keep your heart rate in the target zone you want to. This is great for people who are more focused on fat burn, than just building muscle.
Another great improvement came in the form of an inclination belt. This allows the user to adjust the incline of their ramp, to work different areas of their legs.
This increases the effectiveness and intensity of your workout, while allowing you to feel like you are climbing steep hills. The electronic programs which come with the machines can even automatically adjust this incline according to your workout wishes!
As you can see, these machines have been around for a long time-whether for the use of animals, or humans. They have worked for their tried and true place in the fitness world, and have earned their staying power in gyms and homes, alike.
by: Ignacio Lopez
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