Why some develop pain in calves and thighs using Treadmills to exercise?
By DoctorDidi
@DoctorDidi (7018)
India
August 8, 2011 12:30pm CST
Treadmills are excellent machines to use for exercise. Unfortunately, some who use treadmills to exercise develop pain in calves and thighs. This is because the movements are different from natural movement on the ground as the surface the person is running on moves along with him. This results in slightly different groups of muscles in the leg being used and a different running style from the natural form. This may account for the pain so developed. The pain can be tackled by doing warm-up exercises before hitting the treadmill and cool down exercises such as flexion and stretching afterwards. Alternatively, the best remedy is to go back to the natural form and run on the road.
5 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
19 Aug 11
Either exercise can be strenuous to the calves and thighs. There can be further damage while running on the road as well as one is pounding on tough surfaces, which can also lead to knew displacements also. Before one decides to do any form of exercise warm up and stretching is very necessary. Biggest factor also is to consult their physician to assure one is fit to begin any form of exercising. Especially if there is pain.
@Joe_Black (252)
•
13 Aug 11
Running barefoot I hear is really good too! You can get specially designed shoes that are just protection against sharp objects but maintain the natural shape and flexiblity of the foot for running.
barefootrunningshoes.org
That site has some! I think that's even better than going back to the roots and running normally on the road. =)
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
8 Aug 11
Muscle pain during and after strenuous exercise is generally due to the build up in the muscles of waste products generated by them. Training will increase the rate at which the body can carry away these waste products and deal with them and so will minimise the pain and the likelihood of cramps. Warm up and relaxation exercises afterwards will also help.
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
9 Aug 11
I can't run on the road, it hurts my calves to do so. When I was in the Air Force I had to run on the road every day and I soon clocked in the 300 miles on my shoes. My feet started to burn and my calves ached so bad that I was crying after running my 3 miles for the day. My TI noticed the problem and suggested I run the 3 miles backwards! It really helped me out until I could get the money together to buy a new pair of running shoes. I had a friend run along side of me forwards and she kept close as a guide. This worked because by running backwards I was using parts of the shoes that hadn't been wore out yet and giving myself the cushion that I needed to complete my run pain free. I wonder if something like this would work on the treadmill. There are handle bars to hang onto as you run and if you run backwards it might help work the calves the opposite way than they normally do on a treadmill and be easier on them... just a thought.
@beingwell (3625)
• Thailand
9 Aug 11
Hi my friend! I use the treadmill everyday and I also develop muscle pains every once in a while. When this happens though, I lessen my speed so that my calves and joints don't get too much pressure from the machine. I don't want to over-do my exercise, anyway. Then slowly, I would increase that once more and then run.
