Treadmills have been used for decades as a form of cardio exercise and there are now numerous different types of motorized and non-motorized machines designed to help you achieve your fitness goals. Treadmills have come a long way since they were first introduced and the once-primitive designs have transformed into versatile and sleek looking devices that can be used both at home and in a commercial setting.

Underwater treadmills are now a popular training option for many athletes around the world, following extensive research proving that they boost anaerobic exercise and provide the necessary resistance to help heal injuries, increase muscle tone, and promote weight loss.

What Exactly Is an Underwater Treadmill?

As its name suggests, it is basically a standard treadmill that is designed for use under the water’s surface. It works wonders for strengthening muscles and limbs, as water provides the required resistance to engage in an effective toning workout. Furthermore, it also takes all of the pressure and strain off your joints. This is just one of the reasons that nearly every physiotherapist will suggest swimming as a primary form of exercise when recovering from an injury.

An underwater treadmill essentially mimics a traditional motorized machine that you would find in any gym and it offers you all of the same cardiovascular benefits, just in a different environment. Being able to run or walk through water means that you will have to work harder thus resulting in more gains from running slower than you would on land, with your whole body supported by the water’s viscosity.

How Does an Underwater Treadmill Work?

While the concept of running on a rubber belt in a pool sounds odd, let’s look at exactly how it works and, most importantly, how it can benefit you. To ensure that you get to grips with the concept, let’s look at the two main designs of underwater treadmills and how they each work to help you achieve your fitness goals.

2. Traditional on-land treadmill design: This treadmill is designed for use in a swimming pool or a rehabilitation pond. It works just like a standard treadmill, but you use it underwater. There are two varieties of this type of machine: motorized and non-motorized and they both work to help you build stamina, strength, and increase your cardiovascular health.

3. Free-standing tubs with motorized belt: This type of treadmill has the added bonus of jets and adjustable water heights. This means that you are able to tweak the resistance to your desired needs and you can also adjust the temperature to make it more user friendly. These types of underwater treadmills are less common among the average athletes and are mainly used for rehabilitation purposes.

Why Use an Underwater Treadmill?

Everyone knows that swimming every day can do wonders for muscle strength and toning and the same is true of underwater treadmills. Running in water is a challenging, yet rewarding way to make the most out of your workouts and these revolutionary machines are designed to push you to your limits. To date, they are still mainly used for therapeutic purposes. However, as more people see results from them, more athletes are turning to underwater treadmills for everyday training purposes.

If you want to lose weight, then an underwater treadmill is one of the best ways to do so and the results we have seen so far are beyond impressive.

Why Consider Purchasing an Underwater Treadmill

In the world of fitness, you would be hard pushed to find a piece of equipment that is as effective with regards to health and physical benefits as the underwater treadmill. When using the device, you can look forward to adding some variation into your fitness routine by incorporating aquatic exercises and traditional on-land running workouts. If you are fed up of your existing gym routine, then an underwater treadmill could just be an excellent option that allows you to step your training up a notch and add some excitement back into working out.

If you have been struggling to exercise due to a health condition or injury, then you can free yourself from being hindered by these ailments. Doing a workout on an underwater treadmill is incredibly safe and gentle and also super effective.

How Much Does an Underwater Treadmill Cost?

There is already a huge range of underwater treadmills in existence and the price will depend on the model you select as well as the features it is equipped with. For example, if you are happy to purchase a model that is non-motorized, you will be looking at spending $1500 (or less). On the flip side, if you want a motorized product with all the bells and whistles, don’t expect to spend less than a few thousand dollars.

The good news is that there are more manufacturers developing these fabulous machines and it is now easier than ever to find a good quality product at a competitive price.

The Benefits of Using an Aquatic Treadmill

Many people have never even heard of an underwater treadmill, let alone used one. Therefore, it is understandably important to know what the benefits of having one are before you blindly make a purchase. The first thing we should tell you right off the bad is that once you have used an aquatic treadmill, you will not want to revert to using a standard machine. The gains are plentiful and the best thing is, you will start to feel and see changes quicker than you would from using an elliptical trainer or another cardio machine.

Lose Weight

An aquatic treadmill is the golden ticket when it comes to weight loss. The holistic training regime will allow you to restore your BMI to a healthy level and you will lose weight in a healthy way while toning up at the same time. Obviously, in order to enjoy the maximum benefits of this type of exercise, you also need to ensure you are eating a healthy balanced diet.

Muscle Tone

Losing weight is great, but having lean, defined muscles is even better! If you want to achieve your ideal toned beach body, then an underwater treadmill could just be the answer you have been searching for. Remember that running under water is much harder than running on land, thanks to the natural resistance provided—so the extra exertion will ensure your muscles work extra hard!

Good for Your Blood Pressure

In general, if you want to maintain healthy blood pressure, then you need to be sure that your diet is well balanced and also that you are doing some form of exercise at least three times a week. However, studies have now proven that training underwater is an even better way to help control and maintain your blood pressure, which is excellent news for the millions of people around the world who suffer from pain and hypertension. They now have a painless way to work out and make sure they maintain their health.

Keeps Joints Flexible

If you suffer from joint stiffness or conditions like Arthritis, then any kind of training underwater is going to provide you with relief and help keep your joints well lubricated and flexible. Underwater treadmill therapy has helped millions of people of all ages recover from joint debilitating conditions. So, if you identify with this, then you should give it a try sooner rather than later.

Injury Rehabilitation

If you have suffered a leg or hip injury, then you will be able to relate to just how crippling and painful it can be, especially when you are an avid athlete. Not being able to work out is frustrating and the rehabilitation process can be long and slow when using traditional equipment. Underwater treadmill therapy has been hailed as the best way to recover from an injury or surgery and you will be back to normal faster than you could ever imagine.

Increases Stamina

If your cardiovascular stamina increases, then so does your ability to work out and run for longer periods of time. Endurance is given a boost when training on an underwater treadmill and you will find that when you run on a normal land-based setting you will be able to go harder, faster, and longer.

Low-Impact Workouts

Low impact cardio is key for those who are concerned about causing themselves unnecessary strain. By training when you are chest deep in water, you will reduce your overall body weight to a fifth of what it usually is, meaning there will be less weight for your joints to bear. Low-impact workouts are also ideal for the elderly or infirm.

The Drawbacks of an Underwater Treadmill

The only thing stopping more people from using these machines is the fact that, up until very recently, there had been limited availability in the consumer market. Olympic athletes and serious sports professionals could access them anytime they liked, but for normal people, they still remained to be somewhat unobtainable and some people find that they did not have the budget to be able to purchase one for personal use. However, things are changing quickly and for the better.

Who Can Use an Underwater Treadmill?

Absolutely anyone can use one of these aquatic machines, just like a normal on-land treadmill. An aquatic treadmill is well suited to a range of different fitness programs and anyone who wants to enhance their strength, muscle mass, and endurance should seriously consider looking into incorporating this kind of treadmill training into their fitness routine.

If you have any kind of special needs or physical limitations, then this could be the ideal tool to help you get back on track with regards to health and fitness and they are especially good for the elderly!

The Best Underwater Treadmills in 2019

Aquabilt A-2000

This unique underwater treadmill can be used both above ground and in the pool. Its versatility is currently unmatched, hence why it has become a go-to product in the world of aquatic workouts. The frame is exceptionally robust, made from strong, durable materials, and it requires little to no maintenance, thanks to the fact that it is not motorized. It has been coined “the thrasher” in many fitness circles, due to the fact it will get your legs in shape quickly and ruthlessly.

Key Features:

• Rubber wheels: Make for easy transport and leveraging the machine in and out of the water. The fact that it is made from rubber means that it is resilient to rusting and also isn’t too hard to lift around.
• Non-motorized: The fact that there is no inbuilt motor means that you can leave it in the water all the time if you like. It also will be substantially lighter than many other machines, which is a bonus if you plan on using it single-handedly.
• Supports Heavy Weights: When the machine is actually in the water, it can take a load up to 400 lbs. On land, a 300 lb. weight is the limit. This makes it a good piece of training equipment for those who are overweight and are looking to get back into shape.
• Made In the USA: If something goes wrong, you won’t have to wait too long for new parts to arrive.
• Good Warranty: The warranty on this product covers all parts for up to three years from the date of the purchase.

Pros

Cons

• Super easy to use—all you need to do is start walking or running on it to get started. No prior experience necessary
• Easy to read user manual with clear steps for set up
• Impressive warranty
• Incredibly robust with no need for maintenance and can be kept in water year-round
• Unique design ensures user comfort
• Easy to move around and rubber wheels won’t damage the tiles in your pool
• Incredible workout for your legs

• The price is a little on the higher end. But when you consider the fact that you don’t need to maintain it at all and that it is built to be kept underwater, it suddenly doesn’t seem so much to spend on such a piece of equipment.

Who would benefit from the Aquabit?

This product has been designed to suit the needs of anyone who wants to improve their fitness and it can be used both in a commercial and home environment. If you are elderly, injured, or you simply want killer legs in time for summer, then this piece of kit will be an ideal choice for you.

Our Verdict:

Overall, this is a well designed and sturdy machine that is one of the best we have found on the market. It has been designed with customer needs in mind and the fact that you can literally just put it in the water, hop on it and start working out is also very appealing.

Personal Aquatic Treadmill – Model 201

Another genius creation from Aquabilt is the Personal Aquatic treadmill that has risen to fame for its easy operation. Like the aforementioned product, it doesn’t have a motor and is powered by the energy the user creates and it offers you the ability to be in complete control of the speed. The design is simple and it targets the whole of your lower body during use.

Key Features:

• Self-Propelled: No power necessary, which helps you burn more calories and be in complete control of speed
• Lightweight Design: Super easy to lift in and out of the pool and offers easy portability
• Progressive Resistance: You can tweak the resistance to the level you want
• Removable Handrail: You can easily fit or remove the handrail in less than ten seconds

Pros

Cons

• Really easy and quick to assemble
• Affordable pricing
• Good for beginners thanks to its simplicity
• No motor components mean zero maintenance
• Weighing in at just 50 lbs., you can take it with you wherever you like
• Strong, durable, and well made

• Not appropriate for commercial use

Who Would Benefit from It?

This machine is a perfect option for those who are new to aquatic fitness and working out in the pool. In time, you will likely want to start using a more advanced model, but to get started this one is ideal. It works wonders for improving muscle movement and for therapy purposes and it is specifically designed for personal home use.

Our Verdict:

Aquabilt has not left out any of the important details when it comes to the design and the usability of this product. An underwater treadmill like this one is not only fun to use, but it is also easy to move around and caters for the needs of beginners as well as more advanced athletes.

AquaJogg Treadmill

The AquaJogg harmoniously blends all of the benefits provided by water buoyancy with your natural ability to walk or jog. This machine allows you to work to your own speed, whether it be for muscle strengthening purposes, rehabilitation, or endurance. It is designed for intensive commercial use and you can use it with water shoes or barefoot. The AquaJogg promotes safety and stability, so you never have to worry about injury while using it. It features a folding system so you can easily stow it away when not in use and the rubber wheels ensure that you won’t damage the floor when moving it in and out the water. It is also incredibly lightweight, meaning you don’t have to rely on a friend to help you set it up ready for use in water. Aqua Creek has put customers minds at rest by providing them with a two-year warranty on the metal parts of the machine (which, are resilient to corrosion in any event) and six months on parts subjected to wear and tear.

Key Features:

• Very easy to move around or store
• Rubber wheels prevent surface damage
• Adjustable resistance to more or less intense workouts
• Offers a 13% incline to build strength and muscles
• Excellent lower body workout
• Can be used in all types of water, including sea water
• Suitable for both personal and commercial use
• Pros: This piece of equipment has primarily been designed for therapeutic and professional purposes. Therefore, it has a slightly higher price tag than the products we reviewed above. That being said, the way it has been designed focuses on toning and strengthening muscles with the added bonus of a 13% incline and adjustable resistance. If you want to give your lower body an excellent workout and really tighten up your muscles, then this machine is going to speed up the process dramatically.

Our Verdict:

The compact nature of this treadmill could appear to be a little flimsy, but it is actually extremely durable. It is by far the most professional looking underwater treadmill we have encountered and as it has been designed for commercial use, it can be used as vigorously and as frequently as you like.

Final Thoughts

After absorbing all of the above information, one thing has become crystal clear. An underwater treadmill can take your workouts to the next level with the added bonus of protecting your joints and supporting your body weight. Another superficial plus about working out in water is that you won’t have to deal with sweating and getting really out of breath, yet your heart rate will still increase enough to be able to burn calories and fat just as fast (if not faster) as you would when using a traditional land-based treadmill. Personally, the idea of a non-motorized machine is far more appealing to us than an electronic model—let’s face it, no one wants to play around with electricity and water! This product is an all-around excellent piece of exercise equipment that will prove to be invaluable throughout the duration of your life.

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