When we think of treadmill running, most of us instinctively look down on it as a second-class form of running. But there are times weather, travel or other circumstances will have even the strongest opponent to the treadmill line up and start pushing the buttons for a workout.
Regardless of where you fall on the treadmill love/hate spectrum, running indoors can be incredibly effective. First off, treadmills are safe for kid above 14 years of age and if you have a small size treadmill that will be great when it comes to kids. As when running on treadmill kids will experience no uneven terrain, no scary dark streets, no icy patches or road running. Second, treadmills are convenient: they allow you with your kids to have all your food and nutrition, you can multitask with news and/or music, and they are located in almost every gym on the planet.
Finally, treadmills are simply consistent: not only do you get the same run every time, but you get to run in a temperature-controlled environment with similar terrain and conditions. Here are our 5 tips for safe running on treadmills for your obese child:
Safety Tips for Obese Kids Using Treadmill for Running
- Make kids feel comfortable
Overweight kids who fear falling off should start at a slow enough pace that makes them feel comfortable, and then the speed can be gradually increased. Having children hold onto a treadmill will do absolutely nothing to empower them or make them feel confident.
- Supervise your children
Kids must be closely supervised around treadmills. If the treadmill is in your home and you have young children, disable it after each use. And make sure it’s positioned away from walls, cabinets and other hard objects that can cause injuries if an accident occurs. You’ll have to gauge your child’s training age — that is, when he or she has the maturity and coordination to use a treadmill. And again, closely supervise youngsters using such machines.
- Don’t hold treadmill while jogging
I doubt that a child this young, looks around 13 or 14 years is going to be thinking about heart rate. So, it’s safe to assume he’s holding on for the duration of his jog. This overweight child appears to be jogging due to his hair’s appearance. Overweight children, even if they’re in poor shape, should not hold onto a treadmill when jogging or when walking.
- Concentrate on treadmill
Try to ignore the TVs and everyone around you. It’s difficult, but at first you need to keep your eyes on the console as you develop the balance and proprioception — the awareness of your body as you move — needed to use a treadmill. It’s a good idea to have your feet in your peripheral vision as you start out.
While many people are careful about the way they lift these heavy objects while exercising, they become lax about grabbing them or putting them back, especially after a set has tried them. Instead of using their legs, they bend and lift from the lower back, endangering the disks in their spines. So, the treadmill is the default winter weapon of choice to make sure that we can incrementally increase the workload and ensure increased fitness regardless of the weather outside. Having treadmill access means you have zero excuses for missing that next run workout.
