There are a number of advantages to exercising on a treadmill. They include...

Convenience

Having a treadmill in your home makes staying fit easier. Unless your exercise addict, it is always a struggle to find the motivation to work out. And it gets more difficult when there are hurtles to overcome, like going to the gym.

A gym has the advantage of having a variety of equipment and exercise classes, but it is a pain getting there. If you live in an urban environment you have to fight traffic. Once you get there you have to change, and if you are like most health club members you want to look good. But when you have fitness equipment at home you can dress like a homeless person and who is going to notice.

With health clubs there is the hassle of waiting for equipment during peak periods. Particularly, cardio machines like treadmills. When you have fitness equipment at home you have only a few steps to get where you need to stay in shape. The equipment is always available, unless you and your significant other are competing for the treadmill.

I personally prefer exercising first thing in the morning. My time is limited and I don't have the opportunity to get in the car and drive to a club. As far as I am concerned that is wasted time. A treadmill provides the convenience of exercising at the crack of dawn, or even before. And that is another advantage. It can be pitch dark out and that has no effect on my workout routine.

Weather

Unless you are one of the chosen few who live in paradise, if you are a runner or walker and you like to exercise outdoors, you have to confront the weather. I'm originally from Chicago, and I can remember trying to stay in shape in January. Exercising in the dark, when it is 10 degrees and there is ice and snow is just plain hell. And trying to get a solid footing in mounds of frozen snow can be difficult and potentially dangerous.

It is that kind of adverse weather that makes a treadmill a blessing. But there is not only the problems of the cold, you have to contend with rain, humidity and the soaring heat of summer. With hot weather you have the problems of heat exhaustion, dehydration and possibly heat stroke.

With a treadmill you are in a controlled environment, no matter how miserable the weather is outdoors. And exercising in the comfort of your home gives you one less excuse not to exercise.

Pollution

If you live in an urban environment then you are all too familiar with orange and purple ozone alerts. These hazardous conditions are created by the pollution from automobile and industrial exhaust. The conditions are exasperated with extremely hot weather.

Exercise is suppose to make your healthy, but when you do it outdoors in days of alerts you are doing more damage then good. Running or walking outdoors on a high ozone day can make you feel like you've been beat up. When the newscasters are telling you to limit your outdoor activities it is time to move your exercising indoors. This is particularly true for people who suffer from asthma or who have respiratory problems.

Injury Prevention

It's a jungle out there when you go for a walk or run. With every step there is the potential to injure yourself from unforgiving concrete or pavement or from hidden sticks and roots. If you're running on the street or sidewalks, stop it. You are eventually going to injure yourself. The stress from the impact of the surface of the street is going to eventually result in long-term problems.

Most quality treadmills have shock absorbing designs. In addition, the belts and cushion your impact and the deck absorbs shock. Even more important is the fact that the surface of a treadmill is very stable. There are no cracks or obstructions for you to twist an ankle.

That is why treadmills are ideal for rehabilitation. If you are recovering from a running injury the shock absorption on a treadmill can ease you back into shape. There are even treadmill models that have orthopedic or 4-ply belts for additional cushioning. What you want is a stable, shock absorbing suspension that is not sloppy.

Challenging Programs

Not too many years ago you only had manual programming with your treadmill workout. Now with microchips and exotic programs there are numerous challenges. There are interval programs for time challenges. Hill training, to simulate running the up and down training of mountains and hill terrain. For you flatlanders this can be an intense workout.

There are programs geared for weight loss and calorie burning.

There are heart rate control programs, where your heart rate regulates the speed or incline. This is done is through a hand grip or by a wireless chest strap.

Icon has their iFIT, the patented technology that lets you stream workouts from their Web site to your fitness equipment. Like having a personal trainer in your treadmill.

The Landice Executive Trainer control panel offers a computer-animated video display with state-of-the-art workout graphics. Features include built-in programs, user programs, and wireless interactive heart rate control. You can see samples at http://www.landice.com/Pages/controlpanels.html.

Medical Benefits

Of course there are numerous medical advantages to a treadmill. For example, treadmills can be used to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease. Learn more.

Also aquatic treadmills have been useful with individuals with disabilities.