If you think of one personal fitness machine that is commonly seen inside a household, one can never set aside the treadmill as an answer. According to a report from the Washington Post, treadmills account for around 40% of the gym equipment sales in the United States of America. This fitness machine has a very deep history. If today, it is being used for leisure or health improvement, back then it has a totally different use. 

Do you want to even know where the machine even got its name? Why has it become popular? 

If you want to know answers to these questions, read along to get a broader knowledge about the treadmill. 

The storied past of the treadmill dates back from the Roman empire. A human hamster wheel was utilized by workers for lifting heavy weights. These machines were incorporated into cranes. Construction became faster with the help of this machine. Nonetheless, it required a person to run and exert effort to make it work.

The Romans invented a machine called the Polyspastos Crane during the 1st century AD. It needed four people to be able to lift a total weight of 3,000 kg. The ingenuity of Roman engineers featured a crane fitted with a “tread wheel” that was powered by people. This helped the crane to lift double the weight while using half of the crew. Its closest resemblance is to a hamster wheel. This human treadwheel crane was utilized until the late 1900s. 

Treadmills were already used in mills and farms way before machines that run on fossil fuels. During times when farmers needed to perform tasks like grinding grain, pumping water, or churning butter, “tread wheels” were utilized. Variations were made on the device during the 1800s. When farmers could not wait for the wind or even for water, they utilized farm animals to power treadmills. These machines were already housed and enclosed. It featured an inclined tread for its floor where animals walk to power the device. 

Punishment Tool

By 1818, an English engineer named William Cubitt invented a treadmill and its primary use was to grind corn. Of course, this device required a person to exert effort. It caught the eye of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline. It became a machine that was put in jails across England. Prisoners who were punished for hard labor even used the treadmill for up to 10 hours daily. 

This punishment device was even branded to cure idleness and also produce useful work. Cubitt was a son of a miller and he was highly exposed to treadmills. He based his design on farm treadmills and invented the ‘Everlasting Staircase’. Convicts were forced to climb the spokes of steps of the machine for punishment or even for pumping water and grinding grain. The prisoners had to climb more than 6,600 steps. However, this was not the main reason for their complaints. The convicts were more distressed due to the ‘monotonous steadiness’ required for the task. The punishment device was constantly criticized. It was used in prisons until 1898 when the Prisons Act of 1898 was issued. This led to the abolishment of the machine in prisons.

Pre-World War II Treadmill

The 1920s was known for being the “Era of Wonderful Nonsense”. Rich people who wanted to live a healthier lifestyle had dog treadmills that were customized for human use. It seemed like it was just for show because the wooden slats would make it hard to run.

As the 1930s emerged, the design of the treadmill had minor improvements but it still lacked proper functionality. Fabric replaced the wooden slats. It still had no motor and it required more power just to generate momentum. These treadmills were expensive, that's why it was only common to rich people during those times.

Medical Treadmill

During the 1950s, the treadmill transitioned into a health and fitness monitoring equipment. Dr. Robert Bruce and colleague Wayne Quinton of the University of Washington invented the medical treadmill. The year was 1952, and the treadmill became a machine for helping diagnose lung and heart diseases. During the 50s, there was still no option for doctors for monitoring cardiac function in patients who exercise. Dr. Bruce eventually came up with the idea of linking a patient to an ECG while running on a treadmill. This was the precursor for the stress test that is widely used today.

Using Treadmill at Home

William Staub, who was a fitness pioneer and mechanical engineer, invented the treadmill for home use. Staub became inspired by the book entitled “Aerobics” written by Dr. Kenneth Cooper. It focused on the benefits of running regularly. It even showcased statistics where people who ran regularly for 8 minutes each day were healthier compared to people who don’t. The initial name of this specific treadmill invention was PaceMaster 600.

During the 1980s, an average of 2,000 machines was sold annually. By the 1990s, this average increased and it was already at 35,000 machines sold per year. 

The technology trend has caught up with the treadmill as in 2003, an integrated touchscreen was introduced. USB connectivity followed as it became a requirement for MP3 Player use and iPod use. Until today, the technology of the treadmill machine is still continually developing. 

The treadmill has become popular internationally as home and fitness centers have these items as a common staple and even as their best-sellers. Manufacturers are still willing to push the boundaries of the treadmill evolution. The basic function stays the same but the additional features are getting better and better each year. One of the treadmills today that has been perfect for people who can’t leave their desks is the Workstation Treadmill. Instead of having a chair, you will have a treadmill. This will require you to walk while you work. Another treadmill that is more advanced than the usual is the Hydro Treadmill. This type of treadmill allows people to submerge half of their bodies in the water as they run on the treadmill. 

Who would have known that the most common fitness equipment in households today have served different functions centuries ago? The treadmill has a very rich history and has covered functionality for agricultural, industrial, penal, and medical requirements. Now that you know the history of the treadmill, you will never look at it at the same time as before! Who knows how much more advancements will be made on the treadmill but it is safe to say that it has evolved together with the trend of the times.