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Cushion:
As a treadmill user, it is very important to look into the shock
absorption capabilities of the machine you'll be using. During
jogging or running, each time your foot hits the ground, a similar
force (much greater than your body's weight) is transmitted back up
towards your leg. This force comes from the surface you are running
on combined with the type of cushioning the treadmill is equipped
with. The specific characteristics of a surface are extremely
important to look at when considering injury prevention and
rehabilitation. It makes sense that the more force that can be
absorbed and kept within a material, the better it will be for your
joints in the long run.
AVOID "BOUNCY" TREADMILLS AS THEY CAN LEAD TO
INJURIES TO THE FOOT, KNEE, HIP AND LOWER BACK
Most treadmills will use rubber or springs for shock absorption.
If they are using springs, then avoid these treadmills altogether.
Springs are exactly what they claim, they absorb the impact and then
release or "spring" the energy back to the user. The negative
return energy is amplified through the springs back to the users'
joints. Some treadmills use rubber in one spot of the treadmill.
The most advanced and preferred way of cushioning is to incorporate
variable durometer elastomers. This type usually has stiff rubber
at the back much softer rubber at the front. The basic idea behind
this is that the user will have a solid push off at the back of the
deck and a nice cushiony pad at the front. A word of advise is to
replace the rubber cushioning elastomers once every five years.
Rubber tends to dry out and we therefore recommend the change. The
bottom line is that if you are intending on spending a lot of time
on a treadmill, shock absorption is a very important thing to keep
in mind if you are at all interested in preventing injury.
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