Training on the treadmill - these muscles are used
The treadmill is the perfect machine for runners and as such trains all those muscle groups that are also targeted when running in the park. You spend your workout on the treadmill, but which muscles are being trained? If you're asking yourself this question, then you've come to the right place. This overview looks at the workouts on the treadmill and the muscle groups targeted.
Training on the treadmill - what do you train?
Like running itself, a workout on the treadmill offers extensive training for almost the entire body. This is due to the nature of the running movement because, contrary to popular belief, it is not just the legs that are used during running training. The core - the front trunk and lower back muscles - is also important for stabilizing the running movement. The faster the pace, the more the shoulders and upper arms are used, as these are essential for the swinging movement. Of course, this does not mean that the main part of the work does not lie on the legs. They have to accelerate the body forwards and upwards. When running on a treadmill, the calves and the muscles above the shins are used more than they would be when running on a free track. The reason for this is the different rolling motion over the treadmill itself, which forces you to push directly on contact - otherwise you would fall backwards off the treadmill.
The training effect and the muscles used can even be finely adjusted, thanks to the flexibility of high-quality treadmills. For example, if you want a gentle workout for your legs, buttocks and cardiovascular system, you can run at a leisurely pace on a flat belt. If, on the other hand, you want to increase the demand on your entire body, including your upper body and back, and at the same time noticeably improve your endurance, speed and circulation, you should not only set the treadmill to a faster speed, but also use the incline. In addition, the higher the incline angle, the greater the shift in intensity to your calves. This works in the same way as mountain climbing.
Comprehensive full-body training on the treadmill
The question of what is trained on the treadmill is therefore both very difficult and very easy to answer. In short, you train your entire body on the treadmill. From the cervical spine to the calves, no muscle remains unused. Endurance training is also good for your circulation and your well-being, and you can maintain your running performance on the treadmill even through the colder months. However, the intensity at which you do this - and this is the difficult part of the answer - is up to the treadmill settings and your ambitions.
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Editorial team fitnessmarkt.de (EA)
Image credit: #189925136 seventyfour AdobeStock.jpg
Published on: 19 January 2018