Are you tired of the same old boring workout routine? Have you tried walking on an incline treadmill? Not only is it a great way to switch up your exercise routine, but it also has some surprising benefits you may not have known about.
Walking is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay active and healthy. However, walking on a flat surface can become monotonous and less challenging over time. Incline walking, on the other hand, can add a new level of intensity to your workout and provide unique benefits.
In this article, we will explore the surprising benefits of walking on an incline treadmill. From burning more calories to improving cardiovascular health, you may be surprised at how this simple change in your workout can have a big impact on your overall health and fitness.
Whether you’re a seasoned gym-goer or just starting out, walking on an incline treadmill is a great way to challenge yourself and achieve your fitness goals.
What is an Incline Treadmill?
An incline treadmill is a type of fitness equipment that allows users to adjust the angle of the walking/running surface. This means that instead of walking or running on a flat surface, you can challenge your body by walking or running uphill.
Incline treadmills have a range of incline levels to choose from, ranging from slight inclines to steep inclines. This equipment is an excellent addition to your fitness routine, whether you are a beginner or an advanced athlete.
Benefits of Walking on an Incline Treadmill
Walking on a treadmill is one of the most convenient and effective ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Many people opt for a flat surface, but did you know that incline walking can offer even more intense health benefits?
Incline walking on a treadmill has been gaining popularity among fitness enthusiasts due to its impressive effects on improving fitness, reducing the risk of injury, and strengthening leg muscles, among other benefits.
If you’re someone who is looking to switch up your routine and advance your fitness goals, then incline walking on a treadmill may be the answer. In the next sections, we’ll explore the five significant benefits of incline walking so that you’ll know exactly what to expect from your next workout on the incline treadmill.
Benefit 1: Increased Calorie Burn
Incline treadmills offer numerous benefits for fitness enthusiasts. One of the most notable benefits is the increased calorie burn that comes with incline treadmill walking or running. In fact, incline training on a treadmill can burn about 30% more calories than a flat surface workout at the same speed.
As a result, those who want to burn more calories and lose weight quickly can benefit from doing an incline treadmill workout. The higher the incline level, the more challenging the workout, which leads to more calories burned.
When you walk on a steep incline, your body has to work harder to maintain your balance, causing it to burn more calories from stored fat. Plus, incline walking targets the posterior chain muscles (including your glutes and hamstrings) more than walking on a flat surface, leading to improved muscle activation and overall strength.
To maximise calorie burn during an incline treadmill workout, consider these tips. Adjusting the incline every few minutes or so will give your body a chance to adapt and make the most of the increased calorie burn. Use the incline function to vary your incline levels and change the intensity of your workout.
To increase your calorie burn, try adding intermittent bursts of high intensity, such as a short period of sprinting. Maintaining good form by standing tall and engaging the core muscles will also help to maximise calorie burn and avoid muscle strain.
Aside from burning more calories, incline treadmill walking or running also increases muscle activity. This is because the incline function increases the workload for the calf muscles, posterior chain, and core muscles. The peroneal muscles also experience greater activation, which helps enhance ankle stability.
For those who are concerned about joint pain or muscle strain during high-impact exercises, the incline treadmill offers a low-impact alternative that still allows for an intense workout to achieve weight loss and fitness goals. Plus, doing an incline treadmill workout can improve cardiovascular endurance, boost metabolic rate, and lower blood pressure and heart rates.
Overall, the incline treadmill is an excellent form of exercise for anyone looking to burn more calories and work on their overall physical fitness. It is suitable for people of all fitness levels and can be done a few times per week as part of a well-rounded fitness routine.
Benefit 2: Improved Fitness Level
Incline treadmill walking is an excellent way to improve your fitness level. By walking or running on an incline, you are challenging your body to work harder than it would on a flat surface, which helps to improve your cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and endurance.
When you walk or run on an incline treadmill, your heart rate increases, and your blood pressure rises, allowing your cardiovascular system to work harder to meet the demands of your body. This increase in intensity helps to burn more calories than walking or running on a level surface, making it a great way to achieve your fitness goals.
Walking or running on an incline engages your leg muscles, calf muscles, and posterior chain, which helps to improve your overall muscle activation and strength. By regularly incorporating incline treadmill workouts into your exercise routine, you can increase your muscle strength, leading to better overall fitness.
Incline treadmill workouts are also low-impact, making them a great form of exercise for people who suffer from joint pain or muscle strain. By working out on an incline, you can experience the benefits of an intense workout without putting too much stress on your joints or muscles.
To get the most out of your incline treadmill workout, it is best to start with a slight incline and then gradually increase the incline level as you improve your fitness level. It is recommended that you perform incline treadmill workouts at least three times per week for optimal results.
Walking on an incline engages your leg muscles and posterior chain and challenges your cardiovascular system. Thus, incline treadmill workouts are a great way to improve your overall fitness level.
Benefit 3: Reduced Risk of Injury
When it comes to physical exercise, injury prevention is key to maintaining a consistent workout routine. Traditional flat surface exercises such as jogging or running can put a significant amount of stress on your joints, resulting in an increased risk of injury. This is where utilising an incline treadmill can benefit you.
By incorporating an incline, your body must work harder to maintain balance, which can help reduce the impact on your joints. Incline training places a greater emphasis on your posterior chain, which includes your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back muscles. An improved posterior chain can improve your overall muscle strength, leading to a reduced risk of injury.
Furthermore, incline treadmill workouts are highly customisable to fit your fitness level. You can adjust the incline function to your chosen percent incline, to increase or decrease the intensity of your workout.
You can also engage the muscles in your lower legs, such as your calf muscles and peroneal muscles, which are often neglected in flat surface exercises. This increased muscle activation can also reduce the risk of muscle strain and joint pain.
Benefit 4: Strengthens Leg Muscles
An incline treadmill is an excellent tool for strengthening and toning leg muscles. When you walk or run on an incline, your leg muscles work harder than they would on a flat surface. This increased workload leads to greater muscle activation, which in turn leads to increased strength and endurance.
In particular, the calf muscles, quadriceps, and glutes are heavily engaged during incline treadmill workouts. These muscles are crucial for everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, and standing up from a seated position. If these muscles are weak, it can lead to joint pain and a higher risk of injury.
Regular incline treadmill workouts can help prevent these problems by strengthening these key leg muscles. Plus, as you get stronger, you’ll be able to increase the incline level and get an even more intense workout.
Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve your performance or someone simply looking to keep healthy and active, the incline treadmill is a great way to strengthen your leg muscles. To maximise the benefits, aim for at least two to three incline treadmill workouts per week and gradually increase the incline level and duration of your workouts over time.
Benefit 5: Improved Cardiovascular Health
Walking uphill on an incline treadmill can lead to a higher heart rate and lower blood pressure than walking on a flat surface. This increase in heart rate and decrease in blood pressure can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, which are common in our sedentary lifestyles.
Incline training also provides specific benefits to your cardiovascular fitness. With incline training, you accumulate less cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood vessels compared to flat-ground walking.
The physical challenges posed by walking at an incline lead to better cardiovascular endurance, making it easier for your heart and lungs to supply oxygenated blood to your muscles, which in turn reduces your risk of cardiovascular disorders.
If you’re looking to take it up a notch, high-impact workouts such as running on an incline treadmill can provide even greater benefits. These intense workouts can help improve your cardiovascular endurance and lower your risk of developing heart disease, among other cardiovascular risk factors.
So whether it’s walking or running, try incorporating incline training into your regular physical activities. It’s the perfect form of exercise to challenge your cardiovascular system and improve your overall health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, walking on an incline treadmill can offer numerous benefits for individuals looking to improve their overall fitness and health. It provides a low-impact exercise option that can help increase cardiovascular endurance, strengthen muscles, and burn calories. Incline treadmill workouts can offer greater customisation options with varying incline levels and speeds, allowing individuals to adjust to their fitness level and goals.