Treadmill Running Versus Outdoor Running Differences
Treadmills were traditionally used to tread steps of a wheel to grind grain. Treadmills were initially used in hospitals to diagnose heart and lung diseases. In the 1970s it entered the commercial market and has been a popular piece of equipment since then amongst health conscious people. Outdoor running is more an activity with athletes. Treadmill running versus outdoor running depends mainly on the fitness levels of the runner. The treadmill allows the runner to set a steady pace and change in speeds when needed. As a result the energy to expend can be calculated. However, many athletes feel that treadmill running is quite different from normal outdoor running.
Difference in treadmill running versus outdoor running is more psychological. Running on a belt in an air-conditioned room is more predictable and definitely quite different from running in the open where all senses are alert to avoid stumbling or crashing into a wall.
Fitness on the Belt
The biggest advantage of treadmill running versus outdoor normal running is the convenience of doing the workout at home no matter what the weather is outside. Treadmills offer the runner to check heart rate, blood pressure and calories burnt. This makes the running more purposeful. For older people treadmills reduce impact as they observe shock. This reduces strain on the ankle, knee and hips. One of the other advantages of treadmill running versus outdoor running is lack of wind resistance. Though not too significant, lack of wind resistance makes it a little easier for a senior user.
For training athletes basic argument against treadmill running versus outdoor running is that treadmills are flat. Treadmills provide limited running options, and after a while become quite boring. Because of its flatness athletes may miss out on the techniques of negotiating right or left turns in a race. Moreover, on a treadmill the muscles are not trained to take the stress of going downhill. Running on a treadmill seems easier for a conditioned runner as there is no wind resistance and this may make a difference in an actual scenario. Long distance athletes normally vary their speeds during a race whereas treadmills impose a strict pace.
The pros and cons for treadmill running versus outdoor normal running depend fundamentally on the purpose and use of the treadmill. If it is for fitness, and more so for elderly people, the treadmill is a better option, though the probability of a cardiac arrest is higher if the exercise is done in the comfort of an air-conditioned room in which the user is not likely to stop immediately due to exhaustion. Outdoor runners enjoy the freshness of the earth and thought of the ground disappearing behind every step can be quite relaxing.
