What Happens When You Spend Too Much Time On The Treadmill?

The treadmill is a key piece of workout equipment. While long cardio workouts can offer many health benefits, is there such a thing as too much time on this piece of equipment? As long as you feel good, probably not. According to Treadmill.run, you shouldn't feel like you need to limit the amount of time you spend on a treadmill. You should really be focusing on reaching a minimum amount of time performing cardio. The CDC recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, which many people do not reach. A brisk 30-minute walk on the treadmill done five days a week would reach that goal.

The main downside of spending a lot of time on the treadmill is that it takes up, well, a lot of time. If you feel like your long workouts are negatively affecting other parts of your life, like making you late to work or eating into family time, consider shortening them if you can. You can also break your workouts into smaller chunks of time throughout the day.

Even though you probably won't be spending too much time on the treadmill, there are other things you might be doing on this machine that can cause problems. According to Prevention, wearing the right shoes is crucial when you spend a lot of time on the treadmill. Walking or running on the treadmill forces your body to pound against a hard surface for an extended period of time. Shoes that offer a lot of support will keep your feet, ankles, and back safe.

Your form is also important. Avoid slouching and be sure to keep your body upright with good posture. With each step, try to land on the ball of your foot. Slapping your feet down or stepping with your heel first can cause problems. "You end up leaning backward as the belt goes forward, which strains back muscles from the force generated through your hips and back," said John Higgins, MD, associate professor of medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and director of exercise physiology at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. "This could also cause you to lose your balance." With the right shoes and good posture, you can stay on the treadmill for as long as you would like.