Manual Treadmill vs. Motorized Treadmill

There are two types of treadmills manual and motorized treadmill, both of these treadmills are good for workout. Choosing a treadmill can be challanging and time consuming process. Decide whether you need manual or motorized treadmill.  They both have pros and cons, there are no best fitness mechine for everyone’s needs and training intensity. Everyone is different e.g. their wieght goal, intesity, pace and needs, weigh the pros and cons of each treadmill based on your training needs, figureout what type of machine you need.

Manual treadmills

They are most suited for those who don’t require multiple programmed workouts of motorized treadmills. If your training is simple exercise such and running and walking, don’t mind to use your legs to move the belt and don’t have to loose a great amount of weight, than manual treadmill is an option for you. They are very cheap compare to electronic treadmill.

Manual treadmill, you provide the power as you walk or run, your feet push the tread surface back over a smooth surface or a series of rollers. The treadmill speeds up and slows down according to your effort, unfortunately these machines have drawbacks. 

The disadvantage of using a manual treadmill is the strain it will put on your knees and hip joints, using them might cause you all sorts of joint problems in the long run since you have to use your legs to move the belts.

They are often difficult to get moving without using an extreme incline, and once moving you can't change the incline. The low price also often means less sturdy construction. 

Manual treadmills have the disadvantage of being slower and more difficult to operate because the user powers the belt. If the exerciser begins to tire and slows down, the belt slows down too.

Motorized treamills

Motorized treadmill in the other hand, you select the speed you want and is all motorized you don’t need to push the belt, actually you need to keep up with the belt as it continues at the same speed, forcing the exercise to keep going at that speed. Motorized treadmills are very costly compare to manual, few high quality electronic treadmills retail for under $1000, there are motorized treadmills less than thousand, but it’s not likely to perform the way you would like. Most inexpensive treadmills are btter suited for walking than for running.

An electronic treadmill will give you constant stedy speed through workout than a manual treadmill. Manual treadmill have no speed and timing settings that will hep you burn calories more uniformaly since your speed is determined by how fast or how slow you work the belt, whereas an electronic treadmill does and able to give you a steady workout. 

Final Word

Both manual and an electronic treadmill have pros and cons, however is not ideal fitness machine unless you are fit to push the belt so you can exercise. If you’re after a study and continues workout, motorized treadmill is recommended, for maximum calorie burning and exercise convenience.