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A home fitness exercise equipment that had stood the test of time is the treadmill. Since it was made available to the home market in the 1960s, it has developed into an exercise machine that provides for better convenience, more functionality and simplicity of use. And with its ability to accommodate various workout programs, the treadmill has become one of the most popular and friendly home fitness exercise equipment for novice runners and exercise buffs alike.

The treadmill can be used for numerous cardiovascular exercises such as walking, jogging, running or power climbing. Its health benefits include the increase of ones stamina and endurance, and it reduces risk of injuries that runners often incur from running on hard concrete and asphalt. Treadmills have elevation functions from 1% to 15%. Running on inclined slopes, like running on a hill, helps improve a person's race performance and boosts running strength. Treadmills having adjusting shock absorptive levels and downhill and uphill sections receive good treadmill reviews from runners who are particular with running surfaces and slopes.

Running outdoors can be tedios and time-consuming for some, while others find it an inconvenience to be always at the mercy weather conditions. These are common reasons why people stop running or exercising. But with treadmills, people can diligently follow their health, fitness and weight loss regimen with external interruptions. In addition, runners are less susceptible to heat stroke and dehydration that usually results to running outdoors under high heat and lack of fluids.

Keeping track of one's heart rate while exercising is ideal, and a treadmill has a function that measures the runner's heart rate. While some do have this monitoring and display function, better treadmills can do something even better. It automatically adjusts the belt speed so that the runner can stay within his minimum and maximum heart rate range. In determining ones maximum heart rate, most people subtract their age from 220, while the minimum heart rate is usually the 60 to 80 percent of the maximum rate.

In choosing a good treadmill, many treadmill reviews give importance to user-friendly consoles, decks with cushioning system, display panels and controls to inform of users' progress, and treadmills with at least 2.0 continuous duty horsepower motor. In checking the electronic features, one must note of key indicators and programs such as interval speed and incline programs, pre-set and custom programs, heart rate monitoring and distance and calories burned monitoring. Treadmill reviews also judge the safety features of a treadmill such an emergency stop button, automatic belt speed adjustments, built-in warm-up and cool-down periods, and comfortable handrails and grips.

Over the years, treadmill manufacturers have re-designed treadmills to make it more fun, convenient and flexible to various users. Its beauty lies in the collective pool of little benefits that makes a big difference in people's time, money, effort and fitness and health goals. It's no wonder why treadmills, over the many exercise equipment in the market, have found a permanent spot in many people's homes, as well as in their very busy schedules.