{"id":887572,"date":"2026-09-11T01:42:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T01:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/887572\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T01:42:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T01:42:33","slug":"this-is-probably-the-most-underused-tool-for-this-age-group-personal-trainer-shares-the-key-treadmill-settings-seniors-should-be-using","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/887572\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This is probably the most underused tool for this age group\u2019: personal trainer shares the key treadmill settings seniors should be using"},"content":{"rendered":"

Walking, running or \u2018Jeffing<\/a>\u2019 on a treadmill can be a great way to stay healthy in later life, because it allows you to exercise in a controlled environment to improve your cardiovascular fitness, strength and balance.<\/p>\n

The best treadmills<\/a> can be a little daunting to use at first, because they all come with a wide array of controls and settings, and sometimes even apps you have to navigate.<\/p>\n

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Once you get your head around what you can do with treadmills, however, they become the ideal training partner.<\/p>\n

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I enlisted James Stirling<\/a>, personal trainer and Technogym<\/a> Ambassador, for his advice on how seniors can make the most of treadmill workouts, and which settings they should be using in particular.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of using a treadmill versus outdoor running for older adults?<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Running outside comes with the extra benefits of fresh air and the mental health boost of getting into nature (if your local area allows), but there are specific benefits to indoor running as well.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMost treadmill belts have some give, which reduces impact loading compared to sidewalks,\u201d says Stirling. \u201cFor anyone managing joint sensitivity this can be particularly beneficial.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we head into a colder season, treadmill running means no ice, no uneven kerbs in the dark and naturally, no dodging traffic. For older adults, a treadmill eliminates a lot of fall risk from an unpredictable surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Treadmill running means no ice, no uneven kerbs in the dark and naturally, no dodging traffic. For older adults, a treadmill eliminates a lot of fall risk from an unpredictable surface.<\/p>\n

James Stirling, personal trainer and Technogym Ambassador<\/p>\n

You also get more control over your speed and incline when running on a treadmill, and you can follow structured workouts that are created for you on the machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor beginner runners, this makes it really easy to follow a run\/walk programme where you run a little, walk little,\u201d says Stirling.<\/p>\n

Finally, most treadmills have handrails, which can be especially valuable if you\u2019re concerned about balance.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHandrails on treadmills also provide a reassuring safety net,\u201d says Stirling. \u201cThat reassurance often means older adults push a little harder than they would outdoors, simply because they trust the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are the key settings and features on treadmills that seniors can use?<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Dan Cavallari)<\/p>\n

The first thing Stirling recommends doing is training on a mild incline, which is a lot easier to do on a treadmill than outdoors.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing a modest incline of 1\u20133% at an easy pace builds strength and cardiovascular capacity without the added impact of speed,\u201d says Stirling. \u201cThis is probably the most underused tool for this age group.”<\/p>\n

Using a modest incline of 1\u20133% at an easy pace builds strength and cardiovascular capacity without the added impact of speed.<\/p>\n

James Stirling, personal trainer and Technogym Ambassador<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability to adjust speed in small increments also lets you progress gradually rather than in bigger jumps than what the body’s ready for.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth always using the emergency clip on treadmills, which will pull out and stop the belt if you fall or move too far from the console.<\/p>\n

What treadmill workout for seniors would you recommend?<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe run\/walk protocol is always the best starting point,\u201d says Stirling. \u201cIt breaks the run down into manageable intervals and it\u2019s really easy to make progressions. Aim to gradually build the run intervals, and reduce the walk intervals, until you can run for around 20 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stirling also notes that speed isn\u2019t the only way to progress your treadmill running and make it harder \u2014 adjusting the incline means you can push yourself without raising the speed, which might feel more manageable.<\/p>\n

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