Whether you are working out to lose weight or rehabilitate an injury, running or walking on a pool treadmill provides the same cardio and fat-burning benefits of exercising on land, with less impact on the joints.

Athletes and patients who train on a water treadmill can also perform pylometric exercises to build strength, which improve balance and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

Low-Impact Running and Walking Options

Many athletes and physical therapists use underwater treadmills to achieve rehabilitation goals. They use the same muscles as running on land but without the gravity-induced pounding on joints and can achieve a full lower body workout, core conditioning and cardio training all at once.

Easy to Operate

Just like using a treadmill on land, a pool running treadmill allows you to set your desired speed and incline. The added benefit of the water is that it naturally resists your movement, creating a workout with less impact on your joints.

With a drop-in underwater treadmill system, you can easily convert your existing pool into a therapeutic exercise or training environment. This modular system includes a pump, water reservoir and control console housed within a fiberglass unit. Water temperature, depth and treadmill belt direction and speed can be manipulated to create low-impact, high resistance workouts for patients’ confidence and balance.

Because the buoyancy of water eliminates almost all weight bearing stress, many people who can’t perform on a land treadmill due to injury are able to work out in a pool. As a result, they’re often able to return to regular exercise more quickly. This is especially beneficial for neurological patients who may not be able to regain muscle function until they’re weight bearing again on land.

Economical to Maintain

Walking, jogging and running on a treadmill in the water burns just as many calories as running on dry land while lessening the impact on joints. Even seniors who are suffering from knee pain can benefit from water treadmill therapy.

Easy to Clean

Many physical therapists and universities have free-standing tubs with underwater treadmills, but there are also commercially available units that you can drop into your own pool. These are popular with patients recovering from knee and ankle injuries because they reduce impact by up to 75%.

The best way to clean a pool treadmill is with a brush, soap, and water. A quality unit has an easy-to-remove handrail, and a durable design that is made for long submersion in treated pool water all year round.

The treadmill also has rollers that won’t mark up the pool deck or floor when it is being moved. This makes it simple to clean and maintain for a lifetime of use. You can burn up to 50% more calories with an aquatic treadmill, so it’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants to improve their fitness.