Holding onto the handles on a treadmill?

[Andtheworldwentwhite]

I have been going to the gym for a few months now. Really enjoying it.
But I saw something the other day that has made me think.
Indont have the best balance due to one thing and another. So when I on the treadmill ( not allowed to run so do other things ) I hold onto the handles.

I saw that you really shouldn’t do that. As I won’t get as much benefit if I didn’t hold the handles.
But I mainly do fairly fast walking and up the incline.
im not in this to get super super fit. Just in it for my health and movement. So does it really matter ? I don’t lean backwards. I try to stand up straight. I really didn’t feel safe the other day when I took my hands off and I kept scuffing my feet.

Steep* incline

Actually your legs will be working harder if you hold on because you are not using your arms do drive your legs forward. This results in a much less efficient movement.

Maybe I didn't phrase it particularly well but what the OP is doing is much less beneficial. The muscles she wants to work are not being worked correctly.

I used to teach T'ai Chi which can be very good for improving your balance. One thing to try - on the flay, don't need a treadmill. Walk really slowly, picking up the leg moving forward, as normal. Here's a youtube film which might be useful.

I'd drop to a speed you can easily do without holding on, and incrementally increase it until you're going as fast as you comfortably can. It doesn't matter what the number is, and you'll probably be able to build up speed once you get used to walking hands-free.

But as everyone has said, holding on is much better than not walking at all!

I suspect that holding on to the handles of the treadmill encourages you to let go in your core, OP, and allow your arms and shoulders to do all the work of stabilising yourself.

As a result of doing pilates I have had a complete revelation about the harm I have done to myself by doing potentially good exercises in the wrong way. In particular, I have learnt that I've abused my neck, shoulders and upper arms by allowing them to take over the effort that should have been focused in my core.

I use the elliptical trainer a lot and I have to work really hard to make sure that when I am holding the handles I keep my shoulders back and down, and that I don't drag on my arms. I also make sure that at least half of my session is at a low resistance that allows me to let go of the handles altogether, which forces me to use my core for balance. I can really, REALLY feel the benefit of that core engagement

I'd be tempted, OP, to slow the treadmill down to a speed where you could keep your balance without holding on. If this is too frustrating because it prevents you from getting your heart rate up, then perhaps do half-and-half: slow speed with correct posture followed by higher speed holding the handles. Then you could gradually incorporate the two.

Holding on can actually make a huge difference to your breathing (making it easier and more efficient). I have lung issues and although I start off by not holding on, as soon as I start getting short of breath I will hold on before even thinking about adjusting speed or incline downwards. Usually holding on is enough to steady my breathing. What I do not ever do is hang on for dear life, or lean backwards because the incline is too steep. Resting my palms on the handles at the front or the side without curling my fingers around the handle is enough to make me feel steadier and give the breathing benefits without offering much in the way of actual assistance or taking too much away from core engagement.

While better than nothing, holding on burns fewer calories as it requires less effort and it also promotes bad posture and alignment.

Balance is a huge indicator or longevity, so I’d be working to improve it where you can. I’d focus on training yourself not to hold on.