Common Treadmill Running Mistakes

By Christine Luff, About.com Guide

Updated March 30, 2012

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

I've seen people at the gym who look like they're holding on to the treadmill's siderails for dear life. There are a couple of problems with holding on to the rails. First, it forces you to hunch over, an inefficient running form that can lead to neck, shoulder, and back pain. Keep your posture straight and erect. Your head should be up, your back straight, and shoulders level.

Holding on to the rails may make you feel like you can keep up the pace and work harder, but, in reality, you're reducing your load and making it easier on yourself. Try to pretend that the rails are not even there, as if you're running outside. If you're concerned about falling, you're probably running at too fast of a pace or too much of an incline.

More: Proper Upper Body Form When Running

Previous

• Treadmill Mistake #1: Skipping Your Warm-Up or Cool Down
• Treadmill Mistake #2: Improper Running Form
• Treadmill Mistake #3: Holding onto the Handrails
• Treadmill Mistake #4: Not Exercising Hard Enough
• Treadmill Mistake #5: Stepping Off While Moving
• Treadmill Mistake #6: Running at the Same Pace for Your Entire Run
• Treadmill Mistake #7: Running the Entire Workout on a Steep Incline

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