Endless Pools Underwater Treadmill

Walking, jogging and running in an Endless Pools underwater treadmill is a great way to get exercise without the impact on your joints and muscles. They also help with weight control.

Water treadmills can help rehab injuries like Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis and iliotibial band syndrome as well as generic knee pain. Plus, they can build leg strength.

Reduced Impact

Underwater treadmills are conveyor belts submerged in a pool that allow patients to walk or run while harnessing the natural resistance of water. They are designed to support a natural gait and reduce the impact on the joints and muscles, making them an ideal exercise for those suffering from pain or injury. The soothing effects of the water immersion also help to promote relaxation, alleviating stress and easing tension.

The therapist will usually add the water slowly so that your pet has time to adjust and process what is happening, but once the treadmill is set up to their injury, the veterinary team will start to move it and encourage your pet to start walking. The water typically doesn’t go higher than your pet’s shoulders, but it will vary depending on the specific injury.

Your pet doesn’t need to be injured to reap the benefits of an aquatic treadmill, and elite athletes use them regularly to increase their mileage without the added impact on their legs. Research has shown that athletes who alternate aquatic treadmill workouts with on-land strength training experience greater improvements in lean body mass than those who only perform on-land strength workouts.

Reduced Pressure on Joints

Underwater treadmills for humans are designed to replicate the walking or running experience on land, but without the impact of body weight and water treadmills joint stress. These water-based fitness machines also allow for increased resistance via jets and adjustable water heights, and are easy to clean.

Water treadmills improve cardiovascular stamina. The combination of lower on-ground body weight and heightened resistance results in higher levels of physical endurance for your patients. This can help you get your clients to maintain a higher level of strength and agility, and it may even speed up their recovery.

In addition, the buoyancy of water reduces pressure on joints and bones. This means your clients can start their rehabilitation and gait training sooner than they could on land.

This is especially helpful for people who have injuries that require rest and recovery. It helps them avoid psychological distress associated with missing their workouts and fitness goals.

Improved Joint Mobility

Walking on an underwater treadmill offers a more realistic exercise experience for patients with chronic hip or knee injuries, as well as those who need to maintain their cardiovascular fitness without excessively taxing the joints. Many professional athletes and sports teams have used water therapy for years to rehabilitate their injured players and speed up the recovery process.

In addition, the buoyancy effect of water reduces the stress on the joints and helps muscles to relax. It also allows patients to start exercising much sooner after an injury due to the reduced impact on their joints. This means the muscles can strengthen and condition faster, which is vital for preparing for on-land activities.

Many underwater treadmills have adjustable water height and speed, as well as jets to increase resistance during a workout session. This allows clinicians to customize a therapy program for each patient. They can also add increased turbulence in order to challenge the patient’s cardiovascular and respiratory capacity. This is typically done with geriatric patients, patients that have difficulty breathing on land or those with unstable stifles following anterior cruciate ligament surgery (ACL). Walking in the water also improves muscle strength and proprioception.

Improved Mental Health

The buoyancy of water reduces body weight, allowing for high levels of energy expenditure with minimal stress on joints. This is especially beneficial for individuals who are at risk of injury due to weight-bearing exercise, such as obese individuals, those with arthritic conditions or soft-tissue injuries.

Water treadmills can be used by the elderly, beginning exercisers, and expert athletes alike. It is also a great way for people with joint pain to get back into running water treadmills without adding stress on their joints. This is why Runner’s World recommends them as a way to supplement training miles for injured runners.

Studies show that using a water treadmill helps increase dynamic balance in patients with stroke. This type of balance is essential to regain independence.

In addition, walking or jogging in water helps improve posture, flexibility and mobility. This is helpful in reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia and improving overall function. Water-based exercise also has a positive effect on pregnant women, decreasing anxiety and depression. This type of workout is also known to improve mood and increase cardiovascular endurance.

Reduced Stress

Patients with heart or respiratory disease experience less fatigue and exercise intolerance when using a water treadmill because the buoyancy and resistance of the warm, therapeutic pool helps support four-fifths of their body weight. With the ability to adjust the speed and intensity of the workout, these water treadmills allow even the most injured patient to work toward their recovery goals and regain independence.

The exaggerated gait pattern that is encouraged by aquatic treadmill walking also improves joint flexion, especially in the knee and stifle. This is particularly beneficial in patients who have limited stifle or hock flexion following a joint injury.

Running on an underwater treadmill is more challenging than jogging on land. This is because directional water jets increase the resistance of the exercise, forcing runners to focus on posture and balance. Despite the increased challenge, a study by Texas A&M University showed that exercising on an underwater treadmill burns more calories than traditional jogging.

Whether you’re an injured runner who needs to keep up your mileage or you’re looking for ways to train more often without putting too much stress on your joints, the water treadmill is a good option. It’s even used by professional athletes to help them recover from their injuries.