Treadmills --- why do people hold on to the rails?

Guess what OP, there are no treadmills in the real world (save for airports). Why are you walking on a treadmill when you could be walking outside? Whats the purpose of walking when you could be running? Why are you judging other's workouts when you should only be focused on your own?

Why are you judging other's workouts when you should only be focused on your own?

Guess what OP, there are no treadmills in the real world (save for airports). Why are you walking on a treadmill when you could be walking outside? Whats the purpose of walking when you could be running? Why are you judging other's workouts when you should only be focused on your own?

I hold on..YES I admit it...I am a rail holder. I do this because I am the must clumsy person ever.. Once I get into my groove without the rail I get off balance so then I hold on to reassure myself I'm ok. I don't care how it looks, Just as long at I don't fall back on my butt!

I don't have the best coordination or balance and have fallen off.

Guess what OP, there are no treadmills in the real world (save for airports). Why are you walking on a treadmill when you could be walking outside? Whats the purpose of walking when you could be running? Why are you judging other's workouts when you should only be focused on your own?

QFT!!

What's QFT?

Quacking F**k Tard?

I don't know why a few people are saying this is a "trolling" thread...it seems like a typical (if extremely judgemental) question.

What impresses me the most, however, are all of you AMAZING MFP'ers, many who've posted on this thread, who are exercising despite a lot of different medical issues that you "could" use as an excuse to sit around. You inspire me to work harder.

I notice regular looking people (not old or overweight people) holding on to the rails while walking on the treadmill. Why do they do that?

I think the OP's question was a reasonable one, if he/she had stopped at the point I quoted above. It's asking for information about something they don't understand.

It's the remainder of the question/post that has brought up people's hackles (right so, in my opinion).

Doesn't even look like they're walking fast either.

What's the the point of walking if you need a rail to hold on to? There's no rails in the real world.

The fastest I can walk on a treadmill, before I have to start running, is 4.4 mph. I don't need to hold on to anything either.

Yes, some of us are new to treadmills, some of us are not as athletic, coordinated or healthy as we may appear at first glance (young, not overweight or otherwise!).

The point is that person is THERE, at the gym, getting their body moving trying to improve their health. They may be at the start of their journey, or they may be a long way in (did it ever occur to you that person may have had a spinal injury and perhaps was told they would never get out of a wheelchair again.......kind of makes you look at their "railing-holding walking" in an entirely different light, doesn't it?)

As some others have mentioned here.....focus on your own workout, your own progress and your own technique. And if you do have questions, hold back the judgement or you'll just get flamed instead of getting answers you were looking for!

I consider myself fit and healthy. I do prefer to walk outside however it's not always possible (e.g. heavy snowfall like today, or being on call for the hospital like the past two weeks).

When I am on treadmill I usually walk at 4.2 mph and max incline (level 15). To stay balanced I have to either hold on to the bars or stare at the controls all the time. I'd rather hold on to the bars and stare at hot guys around me.

Wish people would use gyms for their primary purpose and not to judge what others are doing.

I have inner ear/balance problems and sometimes I need to hold on even though I know I am not going to fall.

This. One of my ear canals is literally smaller than a two year olds'. You wouldn't believe the balance issues I have. I absolutely cannot use a treadmill without holding on to the rails, at least some of the time.

Jeeze, reading all these "I hate everyone at the gym who isn't doing exactly what I want them to be doing" threads is giving me a complex about going back to the gym.. Thank god I use the local rec center. Everyone else there is fat like me or old.

And the responses keep on coming.

:facepalm:

Well aren't you the cleverest little monkey in the zoo ...

OP-Why do you care? What business is it of yours if someone holds onto the rails on the treadmill? :huh:

Oh and let bashing the OP begin... I feel bad for these OPs that are sincerely asking a question and those commenting about the OP being "judemental" are just hyprocrites. Own it, you're judging just as much as the OP is. And I'll own it... I'm judging you too.

*stepping off soap box*

Now, to answer your question, OP.

I think it's a balance thing but also habit. I know that I use the hand railing on stairs when I know full well I can go up the stairs without it. But it's there and I just instictively use it. I also use it after a long run just to brace myself from wanting to collapse.

I was told by a trainer you lose 60% by holding on!

I did my run with no arm movement (hold rails during the walks, held stationary across my chest during runs).

I used, according to my HRM, 2 fewer calories today than I did on Monday over 30 minutes.

This does not seem to hold up to common sense, or at least in a sample size of one, to empirical evidence.

I am one who holds on to the rails while walking on the treadmill. WHY? Because I have 2 bad knees and holding on to the rails takes the pressure off my knees! It also helps with balance. Have you ever seen anyone using a walker in the "real world"? They use it to take pressure off and to help them with balance.


The point of walking on a treadmill is to get exercise. I don't believe you have to run or not hold on to get exercise.

Everyone is at a different place in their lives. You are lucky you have the ability you have right now. But be nice...someday YOU may be the one holding on!

Because. This:

Can't. Stop. Watching.

OMG. Ouch. and :laugh: