Curved treadmills?

michellepearson224
michellepearson224 Posts: 72 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Noticed these in my gym recently and have just been reading up on them - they're meant to burn up to 30% more calories which has to be a good thing! Has anyone used one? Are they more difficult to run on?

Replies

  • trjjoy
    trjjoy Posts: 666 Member
    Why would they make your body burn 30% more calories?
  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    They look easier to run on. I would think they would burn less calories.
  • michellepearson224
    michellepearson224 Posts: 72 Member
    It's because they're not mechanically propelled - your body does more work, I guess?
  • sissidevore
    sissidevore Posts: 151 Member
    the old treadmills used to be powered by you moving, and with no electrics. is this how these work? or is it just curved, i did a quick google search, i still would stick with an elliptical or a stair climber :neutral: i just don't know about these.
  • CollieFit
    CollieFit Posts: 1,683 Member
    I think you are referring to those Woodway treadmills that came out a couple of years ago. I've seen them discussed on running and triathlon forums and I am yet to find a proper runner who liked them. All I heard was that people found them "weird" to run on and that their foot strike and gait felt "all wrong". Haven't used one myself.
  • CollieFit
    CollieFit Posts: 1,683 Member
    Here is a product review from 2010 which seems positive yet they didn't really catch on in the UK... Or not yet at least. I think Virgin put some in their gyms but but I've never seen one. Perhaps the initial purchase cost is prohibitive for some gyms as they are quite expensive still despite being manual.
    http://athletefit.com/training-blog/product-review-athletefit-review-of-woodway-curve-treadmill/
  • CollieFit
    CollieFit Posts: 1,683 Member
    edited February 2016
    Seems there's another on the market other than the Woodway... True Form Runner... Here it is reviewed against the Woodway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0miMeGnxPY

    OP which does your gym have and have you discussed them with the staff yet?

    Again feedback from runners is mixed....

    https://www.reddit.com/r/crossfit/comments/381gon/why_is_the_true_form_runner_so_difficult/
  • Numberwang22
    Numberwang22 Posts: 213 Member
    They have a woodway at my gym. Had a few balance problems to start with, but you get used to it. It is exhausting!!! Tend to have my proper run on a regular treadmill, then a few weights/squats, then a slowish jog on the manual treadmill as a cool down.
  • Numberwang22
    Numberwang22 Posts: 213 Member
    Mavrick_RN wrote: »
    They look easier to run on. I would think they would burn less calories.

    Not at all. There are propulsion and balance issues! You have to run at/on the curve to get the belt moving forward. Until you get used to the movement it takes a surprising amount of concentration. I've almost come off a few times lol!
  • michellepearson224
    michellepearson224 Posts: 72 Member
    Thanks all, am a member of a David Lloyd gym in the uk. May give it a go slowly at first!
  • trjjoy
    trjjoy Posts: 666 Member
    Numberwang22 wrote: »
    There are propulsion and balance issues! You have to run at/on the curve to get the belt moving forward. Until you get used to the movement it takes a surprising amount of concentration. I've almost come off a few times lol!

    That sounds dangerous.

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