Treadmill Pools and Osteoarthritis

Treadmill Pools have become popular with rehab and fitness centers as well as athletic training facilities. These pools, like the HydroWorx 1200 Series, feature a treadmill that can be adjusted to speeds up to 8.5 mph, swim current and resistance jets for a total body workout.

Studies show that walking on a treadmill in water requires similar energy as walking on land. This results in less stress on the joints and muscles.

Reduced Joint Pain

Studies have shown that water-based exercise is a great alternative for people who suffer from painful joints. The buoyancy of the water relieves pressure on aching joints, making it easier to move. In addition, the water helps provide stability and balance. These benefits are especially important for those suffering from arthritic conditions, including knee osteoarthritis (OA). A study conducted by Utah State University showed that the use of an underwater treadmill significantly reduced pain and stiffness in knee OA patients.

When using an underwater treadmill, you can vary the speed for easy walking or an invigorating run, allowing you to work on specific knee joint and calf muscle movements. You can also do exercises that focus on the upper body, core and legs by utilizing different resistance levels.

The water supports 90% of your weight, so exercising in a pool can be much less strenuous on muscles and joints than exercising on land. In addition, exercise in the water is less likely to cause injury, as it eliminates the jarring impact of a hard surface that often occurs with traditional exercises such as running, jogging and even walking.

You can perform a variety of exercises in an Endless Pool to improve your Treadmill Pools flexibility, strengthen your core and increase your balance and endurance. The best part is that the comfortable and soothing temperature of the water makes it perfect for anyone seeking relief from joint pain.

Increased Flexibility

Underwater treadmill pools allow patients to walk or run while the water provides resistance. This helps increase flexibility while reducing stress on joints. The speed and intensity of the resistance can also be adjusted to fit each patient’s needs.

Treadmill pools are becoming a popular attraction at elite sports medicine facilities, physical therapy clinics and retirement communities. They help patients and athletes recover faster from injuries while strengthening muscles. But the benefits don’t stop there.

In fact, many professional runners are beginning to embrace pool running as a way to build strength, endurance and add an element of challenge to their workouts. For example, top masters athlete and Western States trail champion Joe Terranova is a big fan of pool training. His reasons for incorporating it into his regular routine include the low-impact workout and the ability to build a variety of muscle groups without over-straining the knees or legs.

Endless Pools offers underwater treadmill technology in their Executive Trainer 19Ex and Residential Triton pools. These pools can be equipped with a belted integrated treadmill, which allows users to vary speeds for easy walking or invigorating runs. To make the experience Treadmill Pools even more challenging, the treadmill can be used in conjunction with a SwimEx current for added resistance against core, leg and arm muscles. This combination is an excellent alternative to traditional land-based exercise and a powerful tool for injury recovery and fitness improvement.

Increased Strength

The buoyancy and resistance offered by a Treadmill Pool allows you to exercise more vigorously than on land. Combined with the natural body mechanics of water, this creates an ideal environment for increasing muscle mass and reducing weight. In addition, it is easier to maintain proper form in water than on a traditional treadmill, which can increase results and help avoid injury.

Studies show that running on an underwater treadmill burns nearly as many calories as traditional land exercises, without the pounding on joints. For patients with osteoarthritis or other joint pain, walking in a therapeutic pool can significantly improve range of motion (ROM), strength, balance and endurance while decreasing discomfort.

Treadmill pool workouts are also popular among athletes recovering from injury, as they can perform a full-body exercise with minimal impact and fewer limitations on joints and muscles. This is why you see so many professional and amateur athletes working out in a Treadmill Pool at elite sports medicine centers, physical therapy clinics and retirement communities.

For those interested in boosting the intensity of their swimming and walking, we offer a pool treadmill attachment that installs into your iPool. It is easy to use, lightweight and provides an invigorating cardio workout for any fitness level, regardless of age or ability. We recommend adding ankle weights for a more challenging workout, or using a resistant swim current to engage core, leg and upper body muscles.

Increased Mobility

When a patient moves in an underwater treadmill, the water creates resistance against their body weight. This helps to strengthen muscles and improve balance and mobility. A recent study by Utah State University found that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) can experience improved mobility and reduced pain with the use of an underwater treadmill.

Physical therapists also use the underwater treadmill to help normalize gait patterns, increase walking tolerance and increase strength in injured patients. Patients with arthritic conditions like knee and hip pain find that exercise on the zero gravity treadmill helps them move more easily. A therapist can also attach a massage hose to the pool and use it to massage stiff and tight muscles.

For runners, the underwater treadmill is used to simulate running without putting a lot of stress on joints. This type of low-impact exercise can be beneficial for all types of athletes and runners.

Treadmill pools are also great for allowing the patient to train without having to worry about pacing or the pressure of a road or track. This allows them to focus more on speed and technique.

Often referred to as swim spas, Endless Pools offer all the benefits of a swimming pool and a hot tub in one compact unit. The swim spa is equipped with a hydraulically powered underwater treadmill that provides low-impact jogging and walking options. Treadmill speeds range from 0 to 5.5 MPH and can be combined with the swim current for increased resistance against core, leg and upper body muscle groups.