Why do some people choose to walk on treadmills at the gym?

[MagpiePi]

I will start off by saying, I am not trying to be goady or suggest that people are wrong, I am just curious.

When I go to the gym there are always people who walk on the treadmills and I wonder why they don't walk outside instead. They are often young (it is in an area with a lot of student flats) with no obvious mobility issues, they are not using cars as they are walking too and from the gym. It is daytime, the weather is fine - not raining, not too hot or cold, the gym is not in a dodgy area or surrounded by roads clogged with traffic and pollution. They are not setting the treadmill to an incline or walking at a sustained brisk pace, but are generally ambling along on the flat.

The only reason I can think of is that it means they can watch videos or scroll on their phones without worrying about walking in dog shit or having to look up to cross roads or avoid other people but still get their step count up.

Am I missing something?

Answers saying 'to prevent injury' surprise me. The only time I ever got a running injury (in the days I ran ha!) was when I used a treadmill. The exact repetitive action gave me shin splints. Physio took one look at me and asked if I was a treadmill user! So painful! I'd have thought there was a similar risk from walking on one. When you walk on the ground outside your body is constantly making tiny adjustments for camber and incline and therefore avoids that damaging repetition.

But I always assume the answer for why women walk and run on treadmills is that they feel safer.

It's a valid question OP. You're not being goady. Just curious.

I wonder this too, so reading these answers has been really helpful. .

I didn’t think OP came across as judgey or pissed off at all, just genuinely curious. Think some people on here are being a bit over sensitive

What made it goady was the comment about no obvious mobility issues. Like people should advertise their heath issues or be judged for exercising in a particular way.

And for some people running (or walking) outside does cause issues. The uneven surface is exactly why I’ve been told to avoid running outside. People need to just focus on their own workout!

The ‘no obvious mobility issues’ was judgy as fuck .

Also- for people with mobility issues that are not obvious, 'no mobility issues' tends to be a code. For a widespread general belief that you are 'putting it on'.

Op may not mean it that way, but for someone who is profoundly and negatively
affected by my not-visible issues it can be exhausting being expected to explain yourself multiple times a day.

Maybe because it’s safer.
I extended my walk yesterday and had a bit of a frightening experience. As I walked through an alley way a man was stood there. He stank of weed and looked scruffy.
I walked past him and nothing happened but for a second or too I was frightened.
Bloody men, that is why women use gyms.

This, I “look ok” well I think I do, but with SPD with both pregnancies and on crutches with both, my hips are still buggered. Sometimes I can walk ok, sometimes absolutely not! It means I can walk and stop when I want without the fear of “how do I get back?!”.

Maybe the OP worded things clumsily but I feel people should refrain from commenting on people’s heath, some things are hidden and not obvious. Some people feel self conscious enough in the gym as it is, they could do without people judging their workout.

Whereas I badly broke my foot running outside by tripping on a tree root protruding from the ground, and couldn’t weight bear for 6 months! Couldn’t run for 18 months.

@Jaimelefromage fine. Life and moving about in the world is not without risk. I chipped a tooth playing tennis the other day! Won't stop me tho.

But others had pointed out that running on a treadmill was somehow better injury wise. Not necessarily so according to me and my physio!

I completely agree. I couldn't believe it when I went and there were some people picking up weights just to put them back down again! Why come all the way to the gym when they could just pick up their furniture at home.
It's madness.

I used to be a bit like that - believe that fitness happened through osmosis when one stepped through the doors of a gym. Much more knowledgeable now!

I think the more important question is why do some gym users just have to park as close to the door as possible and drive past all the empty spaces further away to squeeze their SUV into the last remaining tiny space a few steps from the gym entrance door? Surely it would give them a bit more exercise to actually walk across the car park??

Maybe the same reason they're using the treadmill.... Limited mobility, poor balance etc

Am I missing something the Op asks?

Mostly your own ignorance and judgemental attitude.

Pavements outside are a riot.
They don’t like running (but I suppose you might ask WHY ARE THEY NOT RUNNING OUTSIDE?)
They have social awkwardness and really don’t want to bump into people and chat, or seem ignorant when they walk past people.
They want to ‘switch off’ while walking instead of watching for obstacles/people/dogs/vehicles.
They want to be able to log exact distances and speeds for them to know.
”looking mobile” doesn’t mean there’s no mobility issues, I look mobile enough but am in constant pain moving and am fantastic at hiding it from others.

Most importantly though (and probably the main one) - because they want to😂

I love walking on the treadmill after an hour of strength training. I like a good incline of 12+

When I’m at the gym I’m working too hard to notice what other people’s treadmill settings are…….

Injured at the moment so can't do this but I live in the glorious flatness of the Fens. I walk fast on the treadmill with a 12/13 incline as there are no hills for a very long way from me. Fast incline walking develops different muscles to flat walking and can give a good zone 3 workout.

Good post 👍