Holding the handrails on treadmill?
Replies
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what I don't understand is why people have to be so concerned about what others are doing...you are at the gym for your OWN workout. Not worrying about your own self is what got you to be needing to go to the gym in the first place!!!0
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To those of you who believe that I only asked the question to lord it over those inferior handrail-holders, thanks for pointing out my motivations to me. I honestly believed that I wanted to know why some people hold on to the handrails with a death grip, but in fact I really just wanted to prove that I was superior to anyone who doesn't do it my way.
You're right, my puny 3 days a week in the gym for the past 8 months are clearly not enough for me to familiarize myself with a piece of equipment. I bow to your superior knowledge of both gym equipment and my own motivations.
It is simply unfathomable that I might want to know why someone does something that seems so unnatural when using a machine that seems to be designed to be used for a natural human activity. It's much more reasonable to assume that I am just some kind of a judgmental creep.
Also, you're right to suggest that I might not understand that someone could occasionally want to lightly grasp the handrails for balance or security. I'm obviously deluded into thinking that any such efforts are pretty much the same thing as a "death grip".
So thank you, thank you for pointing out the transparent cruelness in my original question. It's much appreciated.
Ask a question in a forum like this and you are bound to get a lot of sarcastic answers. Why don't you ask the person doing it? Maybe they don't know there is a better way to do it.0 -
OP is extremely well informed about running and only wants to help people.
I think instead of focusing on whether or not the question is offensive, more people should be thinking about whether or not using the handrail is hampering their progress as a runner. For many, just slowing down enough is sufficient to no longer need to hold on.
Here are a few articles/studies on the topic:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/455192-does-it-matter-if-you-hold-on-while-on-a-treadmill/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/423392-do-you-burn-more-fat-holding-onto-the-rails-on-a-treadmill-or-not/
http://walking.about.com/od/treadmillworkouts/a/treadmillhold.htm
http://livehealthy.chron.com/correct-method-walking-treadmill-1419.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17135860
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10686571
http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/JEPonlineFebruary2013_N_Dalton.pdf0 -
Live and learn. Also, if you don't like sarcasm/mockery.....don't use it. It elicits more of the same.To those of you who believe that I only asked the question to lord it over those inferior handrail-holders, thanks for pointing out my motivations to me. I honestly believed that I wanted to know why some people hold on to the handrails with a death grip, but in fact I really just wanted to prove that I was superior to anyone who doesn't do it my way.
You're right, my puny 3 days a week in the gym for the past 8 months are clearly not enough for me to familiarize myself with a piece of equipment. I bow to your superior knowledge of both gym equipment and my own motivations.
It is simply unfathomable that I might want to know why someone does something that seems so unnatural when using a machine that seems to be designed to be used for a natural human activity. It's much more reasonable to assume that I am just some kind of a judgmental creep.
Also, you're right to suggest that I might not understand that someone could occasionally want to lightly grasp the handrails for balance or security. I'm obviously deluded into thinking that any such efforts are pretty much the same thing as a "death grip".
So thank you, thank you for pointing out the transparent cruelness in my original question. It's much appreciated.0 -
Personally I hold on the side rails because of balance issues. I have a slight limp from a significantly shorter leg and I don't naturally walk in a straight line. When walking outside I swerve around a lot but obviously that would just get me injured on the treadmill so I just do what I need to to get my exercise. I try to hold on as lightly as possible to just keep me centered over the tread.0
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Those heart rate monitors take a lot of abuse and, at least in my gym, require constant pressure or you lose the heart rate and have to spend the next five minutes adjusting your grip so that it will find you. I wish they had a plug in port for a chest strap because, being 6'3, I have to adjust my walk in order to hold the bars. But again, that is only when I'm monitoring my heart rate or if I'm doing a pre-programmed set on the machine that requires it. I much prefer walking outside but finding people to walk with has proved difficult.
You could see if there are any trail walking or rambling groups near to you. They are great for finding a crowd of people to walk with. The group that I belong to regularly goes out for 10 to 15 mile walks at the weekend.0 -
Wow! At the original post...
There could be alsorts of reasons for holding on to the handrails. For example:
I ended up with shin splints last year because I did too much, too hard, too fast. I am getting back to training but using the "dreadmill" to help me build the strength back up. If I feel one of the shins starting to 'pull' but don't want to stop then I will use the bars to take a little bit of the impact out of it. It still keeps the heart rate up but makes it easier on the shins....
Thanks for actually answering the question. I was curious if someone used it for this reason. I was certainly not intending to offend anyone -- I just honestly wanted to know.0 -
I've done this... i'm kinda glad to hear i'm not alone.
Until i bought one a few weeks ago, i'd never been on a treadmill and so walking on one felt weird and i couldn't really keep balance.It was odd having the floor move beneath me, unatural. The more i got into it, the more i depended on it and had the "death grip" and every time i would catch myself doing it i would ease up. The past two weeks i've not been holding them at all, it felt strange at first and i was a bit wobbly but i quickly gained balance and now after i warm up i let go. I find i get a better workout not holding onto them for dear life. lol
Thanks for this explanation. I've been curious why people use a "death grip" when it seems like they could hold on lightly when it's only to help with balance.0 -
Either way do what you want, you're cheating yourself and not receiving the full benefit of the exercise. It's supposed to be CHALLENGING hence why it's called EXERCISE.
I sooooo dont agree with you..
In my humble opinion Exercise is about movement - doesnt have to be challenging.
I think challenging exercise is called training
The word challenging has a different meaning to everyone - a 25KM cycle might be challenging for someone for someone else it is their warm up for a 95KM cycle..
As long as someone is moving they are challenging themselves and that is what matters doesnt it - not everyone is out there to train...some "just" want to exercise
live and let live
I just got up to go to the fridge for a bottle of water. I exercised.
Judge Judy??
So well said :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Dude, if you are not challenging yourself, your body, then no, you are not exercising. I remember a time when my back was in so much pain that just walking to the fridge was a huge exercise. Stop judging and smell the coffee. There is life around you and it is not always easy.0 -
what I don't understand is why people have to be so concerned about what others are doing...you are at the gym for your OWN workout. Not worrying about your own self is what got you to be needing to go to the gym in the first place!!!
This0 -
Seriously my take on this is this.... GOOD FOR THEM... If holding on handrails gets them on that treadmill and they are working out, good for them. Everyone has to start somewhere, I don't expect someone to come right in and be like... BISH you better not touch those handrails!! Let people ease into it. You have to remember some of these people are new to the gym and are probably not in the most comfortable situation for them. Starting out with the health level of not doing it, even with handrail grabbing they are probably getting an exercise. Is it optimal, no, but you have to start somewhere. You don't start by running 5ks.
So to all you handrailer grabbers and the people that love them.. Grip on.... Grip on!!!0 -
Seriously my take on this is this.... GOOD FOR THEM... If holding on handrails gets them on that treadmill and they are working out, good for them. Everyone has to start somewhere, I don't expect someone to come right in and be like... BISH you better not touch those handrails!! Let people ease into it. You have to remember some of these people are new to the gym and are probably not in the most comfortable situation for them. Starting out with the health level of not doing it, even with handrail grabbing they are probably getting an exercise. Is it optimal, no, but you have to start somewhere. You don't start by running 5ks.
So to all you handrailer grabbers and the people that love them.. Grip on.... Grip on!!!
My thoughts exactly! Well said.0 -
At least they are getting off their *kitten* and doing something, but I don't touch mine unless I have it on a good incline...30-40%0
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So, I've noticed a few runners / walkers at the gym who constantly hold the handrails or the "handlebars" on the treadmill as they workout. Some of them seem to be hanging on with almost a death grip. Others seem to be bearing weight using the handrails. I'm talking about doing this constantly for a 20-30 minute workout.
Honest question: Why would you do this?
Yeah, I know what you are talking about.... also the ones on the stair stepper but mostly holding up their weight by the handles or the ones on the stair master but only pick up their feet a few inches and going really fast. This is equal to the guys on the gym floor that are benching that 225 or squatting 405 in the Smith Machine but only doing 1/4 squats. Just too much to handle... just one is with weight, the other cardio. Now I will say I am going to guess that some have balance issues but the majority I will guess has too much load.0 -
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Those heart rate monitors take a lot of abuse and, at least in my gym, require constant pressure or you lose the heart rate and have to spend the next five minutes adjusting your grip so that it will find you. I wish they had a plug in port for a chest strap because, being 6'3, I have to adjust my walk in order to hold the bars. But again, that is only when I'm monitoring my heart rate or if I'm doing a pre-programmed set on the machine that requires it. I much prefer walking outside but finding people to walk with has proved difficult.
That's a possibility, but it doesn't explain the death grip. Same for those suggesting "balance." I'm afraid I will probably never understand treadmills. I'm planning on a run in the dark, in 7-degree-fahrenheit temps tomorrow.Is that where the sensors for the heart rate monitor are? I've seen people keep their hands on when they are trying to stay within a particular HR zone.
Most commercial treadmills have sensors built into the console that will capture the signal from a Polar-compatible chest strap and display heart rate on the console, or use that heart rate for any HR interactive programs. If you have a Polar-compatible chest strap, you should not have to hold the sensors.0 -
I'll be honest, I've not read all the answers on here because there's a lot and I'm too lazy, but I used to hold on, then I read that if you hold on then your calorie burn will not be as accurate so I simply turned the incline to a level where I could climb without holding on. More honest that way.0
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I'm usually so focused on my workout that I don't notice what other people are doing. And, if I did, I really don't care. They aren't sitting on the couch with a box of oreo's, Good for them!0
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Yes. If you want to try a little walking but have a problem. In my case, knee arthritis. I would love to be able to walk normally, but I can't. So every once in a while I use the treadmill for 10 minutes, but I hold on with the death grip. Everybody's different.Because it's easier?
Even easier would be to not run on a treadmill at all!
Seriously, though, it just doesn't make sense to me why you wouldn't want to use the treadmill the same way you run / walk. Is there a legitimate reason to be doing this?0 -
when i used to work out at the Y i used the handrails for balance. they tell you NOT to use them to hold you up or use a continuous grip on them. think about when you walk normally, some people walk with walking poles too. your arms go side to side, so why would someone hold them in one place on the treadmill handles. youre not getting your full potential of exercise if you are bearing weight on the rails......0
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I have to hold on to those rails, I have a partial paralysis on my right side. When you are walking on the sidewalk, your space is not as limited as the one on the treadmill.0
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Either way do what you want, you're cheating yourself and not receiving the full benefit of the exercise. It's supposed to be CHALLENGING hence why it's called EXERCISE.
I sooooo dont agree with you..
In my humble opinion Exercise is about movement - doesnt have to be challenging.
I think challenging exercise is called training
The word challenging has a different meaning to everyone - a 25KM cycle might be challenging for someone for someone else it is their warm up for a 95KM cycle..
As long as someone is moving they are challenging themselves and that is what matters doesnt it - not everyone is out there to train...some "just" want to exercise
live and let live
I just got up to go to the fridge for a bottle of water. I exercised.
Judge Judy??
So well said :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Dude, if you are not challenging yourself, your body, then no, you are not exercising. I remember a time when my back was in so much pain that just walking to the fridge was a huge exercise. Stop judging and smell the coffee. There is life around you and it is not always easy.0 -
LOL so i can count getting off my butt for a drink of water, which takes literally 30 seconds exercise? oh awesome. i want to go log that in right now.....LOL no offense here. i just got a chuckle when i read.... i just got a bottle of water, i exercised.... YESSSSS thats me........ :laugh:0
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I think it's done to drive people that are more concerned with someone else's workout than their own to post questions like this on a fitness forum. :laugh:
Ok, only halfway kidding...
I would imagine lots of reasons...My husband would do it for balance...He has had numerous cervical spine surgeries, and a lot of nerve damage, and walking without stumbling is a challenge for him.0 -
most people I see doing it do it as the incline is too steep not too, though holding on makes it easier, defeating the purpose of the incline in the first place. So no idea why other than they think they are burning more cals, 'cause the machine thinks they are not holding on so gives them a "bigger" burn than they really have though they probably think they actually burned that many.0
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uuuum, I hold on because I thought thats why the hand rails are there for ??? and it helps when i am on and my Vertigo decides to kick in LOL0
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if I'm walking on a huge incline I'm going to hold on. I don't have a death grip on the handles but I will lightly hold them.
When I'm doing sprint intervals on the treadmill and I'm getting really, really tired I'll grip the treadmill a bit during my fast interval so I don't collapse and fall off.most people I see doing it do it as the incline is too steep not too, though holding on makes it easier, defeating the purpose of the incline in the first place. So no idea why other than they think they are burning more cals, 'cause the machine thinks they are not holding on so gives them a "bigger" burn than they really have though they probably think they actually burned that many.
How do you know what they're thinking as they're doing their incline walks or runs? And seriously, why does it matter to you why they're holding on? If I was doing an incline walk and holding onto the handles in front of me and someone laughed at me and said I wasn't getting the "full benefit" I'd ask them why it's their concern.0 -
Either way do what you want, you're cheating yourself and not receiving the full benefit of the exercise. It's supposed to be CHALLENGING hence why it's called EXERCISE.
I sooooo dont agree with you..
In my humble opinion Exercise is about movement - doesnt have to be challenging.
I think challenging exercise is called training
The word challenging has a different meaning to everyone - a 25KM cycle might be challenging for someone for someone else it is their warm up for a 95KM cycle..
As long as someone is moving they are challenging themselves and that is what matters doesnt it - not everyone is out there to train...some "just" want to exercise
live and let live
I just got up to go to the fridge for a bottle of water. I exercised.
Judge Judy??
no he/she just craves attention
Riiiight I crave attention because I state facts. You're sitting there saying that ANYTHING involving movement is considered "exercise". It's you're body do what you want. If you want to get by with the bare minimum that's fine. I know when I go to the gym, I'm going with purpose. Purpose to change and evolve my physique, purpose to become more disciplined in the way I view exercise, nutrition and overall health. What is life without purpose? Why would anyone want to get by with the minimum?
Anyhow, let me know how that works out for you..I'm sure you'll have the physique you want in no time doing the minimum.
Good Luck
I have no doubt that you would be one of the people at the gym that I would have a quiet teehee about in my mind and then go about my business. Pretty much like here on the boards.0 -
I saw a girl on high incline hold on to the railing hanging from her arms basically it looked retarded and serves no obvious purpose.
Nice. You just insulted the girl and an entire population of human beings in one sentence. Way to go. :yawn:0 -
LOL so i can count getting off my butt for a drink of water, which takes literally 30 seconds exercise? oh awesome. i want to go log that in right now.....LOL no offense here. i just got a chuckle when i read.... i just got a bottle of water, i exercised.... YESSSSS thats me........ :laugh:
If getting up for a glass of water is difficult and you get winded, do it more often!! :laugh: :laugh:
Seriously, when I first stared my exercise program back in March 2009, I would lie down on my bed and do leg raises for about 5 minutes and I was done. Couldn't move anymore. After a month or two of working out on my bed every day, I was doing 20 minutes' Pilates routines. After three or four months, I was taking 60 to 90 minutes walk every day. Sometimes, I was walking outside with no hand rails and no walking sticks. Sometimes, I was walking on my treadmill as fast as 4.5 mph grabbing on to those horrific handrails to make sure I did not fall off the wagon.. Please don't judge, I cannot run and 4.5 mph is kindda fast for someone with a motor deficiency and a lack of coordination.
I am very proud of what I have accomplished over the years :drinker: :drinker:0
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