What Is a Stair Treadmill?

Most everyone knows what a treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical and stair stepper are but what about a stair treadmill? A stair treadmill, which is also known as a stepmill, is basically a revolving belt of stairs. A workout on the stair treadmill is weight bearing and has medium impact on your body.

  1. ID the Machine

    • A stair treadmill looks nothing like other machines so it should be easy to spot when you walk into the gym, because it looks like a short escalator. Generally, it will have three to four rubber-coated stairs. It will generally be a larger machine, both in width and height. The stair treadmill will have two fixed hand rails on either side to give you something to hold onto as you climb.

    Operation Stair Treadmill

    • Once you locate the proper machine, give it a whirl. Step up onto the machine, ideally to the first or second step. With one hand, grasp the handrail and with the other, select "quick start" on the machine or select a specific workout option. Once you press start, the stairs will begin to move. Simply climb the stairs to keep pace with the movement. Use the handrails for balance but do not lean on them or use them to support your body, because this will make your workout less effective.

    It's Not Without Its Perks

    • Because stepping is a form of cardiovascular exercise, there's a very good chance you'll be breathing hard after only a few minutes. To increase the cardiovascular challenge and thus the intensity of your workout, increase the speed of the steps. In addition to fitness improvements, the stair treadmill will also strengthen the muscles of your lower body. With each step, your legs work to carry the weight of your body upward against the force of gravity. The larger you are, the harder your legs have to work. If you want to increase the challenge of your workout, wear a weighted vest during your workout.

    Factor for Safety

    • Because of its height and revolving stairs, the stair treadmill does pose some safety risks. If you lose your balance, miss a stair or fall off the machine, you could seriously injure yourself. Prevent any mishaps by knowing your limits and staying within them. If you're new to exercise, start out at a slow pace and use the machine for only 10 to 20 minutes at a time to prevent fatigue, which could lead to an accident. Avoid getting distracted by the television program playing in the gym, for example, and focus on the task at hand.