Holding onto the rails while walking or running on the treadmill is a bad habit that reduces the good effects of your workout. Some people think that walking on a treadmill is like balancing one foot on a log in the water. As a result, the idea of taking their hands off the rails is unthinkable. I've people with many different situations, including multiple medical problems, obesity, and advanced age, release their death grip. Not one of them fell.
Treadmill Rails Don't Need to be Used
Many treadmill grippers are young, not over weight, and heave no medical ailments. It's safe to assume that most people hang on just because the rails and the front bar are there. The very presence of the bar and rails put into the minds of the user that they will wildly topple off if they don't hold on. Letting go never occurs to them. The rails are there for liability purposes, maxium profit, and to hold onto when you turn around to see who is behind you. The front bar is usually used to check your heart rate.
Most people who tell me they will fall off the treadmill are only going 3.4 or 4 mph. However many people I spoken to never had to slow down before letting go. All they need was my suggestion to slow down. Having said that, there are those who have had to slow the machine up as they were just going too fast for what was safe for themselves.
If you don't have a balance problem or other medical issues, simply let go at the speed you normally use. You'll instantly feel many more muscles working. Keep straight and focus on posture. If you are scared or challenged, just slow the treadmill down to a comfortable level until you build your confidence.
Remember that most of the problems with people falling off treadmills center around going too fast for their bodies or having the incline set too high. Know what your body can do and slowly ease into your workouts. Have fun.
In His Grace,
Mark
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