A treadmill is a device that is usually used to walk, run or climb in the same place. Treadmill was introduced before the development of power machinery to use the power of animals or humans to work. It is usually a kind of mill for grinding grain by people or animals treading on casters. Later, the treadmill was used as a punishment tool for those sentenced to hard labor in prison. The terms treadmill and bicycle can be used interchangeably in terms of power and punishment mechanism.

Recently, treadmills are no longer used to control power, but as fitness machines that run or walk in one place. Instead of powering the user, the machine provides a wide belt driven by an electric motor or flywheel for the mobile platform. When the safety belt moves backward, the user is required to walk or run at a speed matching the safety belt. The speed of belt movement is the speed of walking or running. Therefore, the travel speed can be controlled and measured. The more expensive heavy-duty version is motor-driven (usually motor-driven). Simpler, lighter, and cheaper versions can passively resist movement, only when the pedestrian pushes the seat belt with his foot. The latter is called a manual treadmill.

According to the statistics of sports fitness industry association, treadmill is still the largest category of fitness equipment sold. As a result, the treadmill industry has hundreds of manufacturers around the world.

The origin of treadmill can be traced back to the 1st century AD. Ancient Romans used castors or jib cranes to carry heavy loads.

Mechanical Engineer William Staub developed the first household treadmill. [Staub] developed his own treadmill after reading "aerobic exercise" written by Kenneth h. Cooper in 1968. Cooper's book points out that individuals who run four to five times a week for eight minutes and eight minutes are in better shape. Noting that there was no affordable home treadmill at the time, Staub decided to develop a treadmill for his own use in the late 1960s. He called his first treadmill the pacemaster 600. When it was done, Staub sent its prototype treadmill to Cooper, who found the first customers of the machine, including vendors of fitness equipment.

Staub started production of the first home treadmill at his plant in Clifton, New Jersey, and then moved production to Littell Fowles, New Jersey.

The power of treadmill comes from ancient times. These ancient machines have three main designs. The first is to extend the horizontal bar out of the shaft. It is driven by cattle or other animals around the vertical axis of rotation, and a circle of putters. Even humans are used to power it. The second design is the vertical wheel, that is, the treadle wheel, which is powered by climbing on the spot rather than walking around. This is similar to the hamster wheel we know today. The third design also requires climbing, but uses a sloping mobile platform instead.

The treadmill as a muscle powered engine originated about 4000 years ago. [need to quote] their main purpose is to lift buckets. Later, the same technology was used to make rotary grain crushers and pedal cranes. It is also used to pump water to power dough kneaders and bellows.

The U.S. patent for treadmill "training machine" (1064968) was issued on June 17, 1913.

The predecessor of the treadmill was designed to diagnose heart and lung diseases. It was invented by Robert Bruce and Wayne Quinton of the University of Washington in 1952. Kenneth h. Cooper's 1968 study on the benefits of aerobic exercise supports the argument for the commercial development of home treadmills and exercise bikes.

Today's treadmill users include medical facilities (hospitals, rehabilitation centers, medical and physical therapy clinics, higher education institutions), sports clubs, biomechanical research institutes, orthopedic shoe stores, running stores, Olympic training centers, universities, fire training centers, NASA, police and military, gymnasiums and even home user test facilities Construction and training room.

The treadmill dynamometer is now mainly driven by an electric motor. Most treadmills have platforms with skateboards. There are two axes in front of and behind the table. The running belt stretches between the shaft and the running deck. The safety standards for treadmills are IEC en 957-1 and IEC en 957-6.

For medical treadmills, the applicable specifications, standards and guidelines are the medical device directive (MDD), European guideline 93 / 42 EEC, European guideline 2007 / 47 EEC, IEC en 60601-1, en 62304, en 14971 and mechanical Guideline 2006 / 42 / EC.

The medical treadmill is a class IIB active treatment equipment, which is also used for diagnosis. The treadmill has a very powerful power (for example, 3.3 kW = 4.5 HP), which transmits mechanical energy to the human body through the mobile running belt of the treadmill. Instead of changing their horizontal position, the subjects moved passively and were forced to catch up with the running belt under their feet. The subjects can also be fixed in the safety belt, the weight reducing system, various supports, and even fixed in the robot orthopedic system on the treadmill and move with it.

Medical treadmill is also an effective measuring equipment. When they are connected to ECG, human spirometry, blood pressure monitor (BPM) or EMG, they become new medical systems (such as stress testing system or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation system), and they can also measure VO2max and other important functions.

Most treadmills have a "heartbeat mode" in which the target heart rate is defined and the speed and altitude (load) are automatically controlled until the subject is in a "heart rate stable state". Therefore, the treadmill transmits mechanical energy to the human body according to the subject's vital function (heart rate).

When it is used as an independent device in medical environment or in combination with ECG, EMG and ergonomic measurement, the medical treadmill which can also be used for power measurement, cardiopulmonary pressure test and performance diagnosis is always class IIB medical equipment. Or blood pressure monitoring device.

NASA astronaut T.J. creamer, flight engineer of expedition 22, is equipped with rebound rope to exercise on the combined operating load external resistance treadmill (Colbert) on the harmony node of the international space station.

On the running deck, the subject is moving and he adapts to the adjustable speed of the belt. The traveling deck is usually installed on the damping element, so the traveling deck has damping characteristics. Through the lifting element, the whole frame including the treadmill running deck will be lifted to simulate the pitch angle of uphill running. Some treadmills also reverse the belt for downhill loads. Most of the treadmills suitable for the professionals in the fitness area have a working table length of about 150 cm, a width of about 50 cm, a speed range of about 0... 20 km / h, and a tilt angle of 0... 20%.

For athletes, a bigger, more stable treadmill is necessary. Sprinters can temporarily reduce the speed of some weightlifting, so the maximum speed can be up to 45 km / h, so they have to travel on a large deck with a length of no more than 300 cm and a width of no more than 100 cm. At high physical exertion and high risk of falls, a fall stop device is required to prevent subjects or patients from falling. This drop stop is usually achieved by a safety arch where the rope is connected to an electrical switch. The harness holds the object tightly to prevent it from falling and closes the running belt.

In some offices, treadmill desks are provided for employees so that they can walk while using a computer or talking on the phone.

For example, in a treatment center, a treadmill uses built-in seats on the left and right sides of the therapist, so the therapist can move a stroke patient's legs to simulate walking and learn to walk again. This is called manual exercise therapy.

The super large treadmill can also ride at a speed of up to 80 km / h, which is suitable for wheelchair users and special applications. The application is equipped with thick running belt, which is suitable for cross-country skiing and winter sports. The maximum size of the roller skiing training and test sports for athletes on the sliding deck is 450 x 300 cm.