How to Kick the Treadmill-Gripping Habit

Holding onto when walking or running on the treadmill is a bad habit that reduces the good effects of your workout. Some people think walking on a treadmill is akin to balancing one foot on a log in the water. Thus, the idea of taking their hands off the machine is unthinkable. I’ve had people with many situations, including Meniere’s disease (a balance disorder), obesity, and advanced age, release their hands. Not one of them fell.

Treadmill Rails Don’t Need to Be Used

Many treadmill-grippers are young, not overweight, and have no medical ailments. Thus, it’s safe to assume that most people hold on for no other reason than because the rails and front bar are there. The presence of the bar and rails puts the idea into walkers’ heads that they’ll topple over if they don’t hold on. Letting go never dawns on them.

The rails are there for liability purposes, maximum profit, and to hold onto when you turn around to see who’s behind you. The front bar is for checking heart rate.

Slow Down the Treadmill

It’s always funny how people who tell me they’ll “fall off” have the tread going at 3.5 or 4 mph! Slow the speed. However, many people I’ve spoken to never needed to slow down before letting go. All they needed was my suggestion. On the other hand, many people indeed have the machine’s settings too high for their abilities.

Treadmill Walking with Zero Incline

If you don’t think you have a balance problem, simply let go at the speed you normally use. You’ll instantly feel many more muscles working. Keep straight and focus on posture. If you’re “scared” to let go, then first reduce speed. Go down to 2 mph if you must. If you’re challenged, set it even slower. Cruise at 1 mph if this is what it takes to acclimate your body to real walking.

If you feel self-conscious about being seen walking this slowly, then do realize that this doesn’t look half as silly as holding on at a faster speed. Your body will adjust to this new stimulus very quickly.

If you prefer no incline, do short speed-walking intervals alternating with slower walking. Or, stay at one challenging pace for sustained periods. If you can’t let go because your eyes are pasted to the TV or a magazine, then give up the TV or magazine.

Treadmill Incline

People set the incline too high for the speed, or the speed too fast for the incline. Thus, they have no choice but to hold on. If releasing your hands is too difficult, regardless of your fitness level or age, then lower the settings! Many people believe that in order to get a sizzling cardio workout, they must keep the speed at least 3.5 or 4 mph for incline walking. At a high incline, this is unrealistic as a sustained pace.

Think of your last uphill hike outdoors. You were probably climbing at only 2 or 2.5 mph! Yes! Even 3 mph outdoors can be difficult. Set the tread at a pace similar to that of your outdoor hikes. Be realistic. I’ve seen people on the treadmill (no hands) get smoked out just by walking only 2.5 mph at 15 percent for only 10 minutes.

Treadmill Interval Training

1. High Incline - Level Recovery: Walk a high incline for a few minutes (hands off), then go level for two minutes to recover. Alternate tough high inclines with easy low inclines at a fixed speed for 30 minutes. Do not keep the incline high and simply hold on for your easy intervals! Instead, lower the angle and keep your hands off. For fitness results, you must mimic reality.

2. High Incline, Vary Speed: Maintain a 15 percent grade, but vary the speed. For instance, alternating one-minute intervals between 4 mph and 2 mph. Don’t think 2 mph is too slow; you may still be wheezing after only one minute at this recovery interval, especially as time progresses into the routine.

3. High Intensity Interval Training: If you’re in great shape, set your training intervals at a grueling intensity (6 mph at 15 percent!). It’s okay for a training interval to last only 15-30 seconds. Your one- or two-minute recovery intervals can be a 3 mph, flat-level walk or a 2.5 mph 15 percent walk.

4. Steady Pace: If you don’t prefer intervals, then walk or jog sustained at an incline low enough to permit releasing your hands, but high enough to charge up your heart rate. Raise the incline one percent every week or two.

5. Experiment: Experiment with different grades, speeds and interval times for varying degrees of intensity. If you initially feel dizzy or unsteady, it’s because you’re used to using your arms as anchors. Stick it out and you’ll soon be walking like a Marine or running like the wind. If your lower back aches while using the incline, it’s because those muscles are working for the first time!

Last Updated: 11/20/05