Using the underwater treadmill is similar to using a regular treadmill, but with the added resistance of water.

To use an underwater treadmill, one must enter the tank and begin walking on the treadmill. The tank will be filled with warm water up to about your neck level.

Then, as you walk, the belt on the treadmill will move underneath your feet and you will be able to walk along as if you were on dry land.

Health Benefits of Underwater Treadmill:

The best benefits of underwater treadmill training are realized when it is used as a form of rehabilitation for people with conditions that affect their mobility.

Typically, people who have knee injuries or back problems benefit the most from this type of aquatic therapy. The buoyancy of water reduces weight-bearing impacts on joints and allows patients to perform exercises that might otherwise be contraindicated due to pain or stress.

Athletes are also known to utilize the benefits of underwater treadmill training by using it as an off-season conditioning tool. However, the use of an underwater treadmill can also enhance athletic performance when used during the season in conjunction with regular workouts above water.

The intense workout an athlete can receive while walking or running on an underwater treadmill is much greater than what they would receive running on land. This allows athletes to increase their strength and endurance without adding stress to their joints or muscles that would normally be caused by running on land.

The health benefits of underwater treadmill training include improved gait; increased circulation; improved muscle tone, strength, and joint stability; reduction in swelling; increased range of motion; decreased spasm, tension, and pain; and decreased incidence of injury.