The Mirage: Experience Walking Underwater with This Unique Treadmill

According to the CDC, only about one in four (28% to be precise) Americans exercise as much as they should. There are several reasons why, including time, priorities, and motivation. Most people have trouble fitting “gym” into their daily schedule. There is another set of people who desperately need exercise, like walking or running, but can’t because of knee pain. At least 14 million Americans over the age of 25 suffer from it because of worn or damaged knee joint cartilage. One perfect solution for the “exercise” needs of all these individuals, as well as professional athletes, is a human underwater treadmill.

What Is A Human Underwater Treadmill?

A human underwater treadmill is a special type of treadmill that sits within a chamber that can be filled with water. So that a person can walk or run on that treadmill while a portion of their body is submerged under water. It’s a powerful tool for hydrotherapy which usually takes place inside pools, because it combines the same benefits with a compact system that doesn’t take up a lot of space. This is why it’s easy to keep in a home or a fitness center.

The build of such a treadmill has to take multiple important factors into account. The treadmill part of it has to be waterproof since it needs to bear the combined weight of the water and the person running on the treadmill. The chamber has to be watertight to prevent any spills. Any electronics like sensors on the treadmill must also have sufficient water resistance.

Underwater Treadmill for Humans – Benefits and Uses

An underwater treadmill for humans can be used in a number of ways. The three most significant of them are:

Exercise

Running is one of the most common forms of cardio exercises that you can do, with or without a treadmill. In contrast, swimming is one of the best full-body workouts you can do. While a human underwater treadmill doesn’t necessarily combine both of them in their entirety, it enhances certain benefits of both exercises.

Take running as an example. It’s a great way to burn off calories and strengthen your heart, but you have to do it in moderation if you are overweight. Otherwise, it may have a negative impact on your knees. A human underwater treadmill reduces the load on your knees (making it relatively more low-impact). Since you are working against a denser fluid than air when running partially submerged in water, it can also help you burn more calories in less time. Some underwater treadmills for humans also have jets that can magnify this impact/benefit.

Human Hydrotherapy

One of the most potent use cases for underwater treadmills for humans is hydrotherapy. Human hydrotherapy is used to treat several different types of acute and chronic conditions. This includes:

• Joint-related conditions like Osteoarthritis.
• Muscle-related conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
• Nerve-related conditions like Parkinson’s.

As for acute conditions, it can be used to treat or mitigate the effects of certain injuries, especially in leg joints. Many human underwater treadmills allow people to sit and move their legs in the water, which can be useful for ankle therapy and treatment. If you use hydrogen-rich water, it may even help with the pain and swelling of a sprain. However, the most significant results of hydrotherapy are seen in patients suffering from various knee-related conditions, including knee osteoarthritis.

These types of treadmills can be used for human hydrotherapy needed for a variety of conditions.

Athletic Training

Some underwater treadmills for humans are specially designed for athletic training. They may offer relevant treadmill functions, strengths, and speeds. They may also include features like jets that may create further opposition for athletes, allowing them to build endurance. It can be used for things like aqua-jogging to help them build endurance and muscles beyond what conventional running can offer. It can also be great for recovering athletes, as it’s a low-impact exercise tool that can help athletes regain their strength and stamina without hurting their joints and muscles.

Underwater Treadmill: Features and Models

There are several different underwater treadmill models available on the market. Each may have its own set of features. But the most significant features and characteristics you need to know about before you buy a human underwater treadmill are:

Footprint: This determines how much space the underwater treadmill will take. It’s an important consideration for people with limited space in their home for fitness equipment or therapy and fitness centers trying to efficiently manage space. A compact footprint is desirable.

Maintainability: Like any other equipment, it’s important that the water treadmill is easy to maintain. It’s easy to remove parts like the belt for cleaning and putting them back together.

Chamber Height: Chamber height is more important than the total capacity it allows for. Because that might determine how much of your body you can submerge. It’s also tied to the display screen because even if the chamber height is sufficient, you can fill it too much if the screen is low.

Speeds: The total speed and how much control you have over the speed of the belt are also important factors to consider. Granular control, like increments of 0.1 mph, is better than bigger/sharper jumps like 0.25 or 0.5 mph.

Direction and Mode: For making the most of the treadmill and using it for a wide variety of applications, it’s better if it runs both forward and backward. If it runs dry, that’s an additional benefit since you can also use it as a regular treadmill.

Jets: The jets can increase the pressure against you, which can have exercise and endurance training benefits.

The Mirage – Human Underwater Treadmill

H2O for Fitness has developed two different models for underwater treadmills, which are good for everything from human hydrotherapy to athletic training. They offer these and a variety of other features. These models are Mirage Neo and Mirage Pro.

Mirage Neo is geared more towards hydrotherapy and exercise. It’s powerful, efficient, and combines all necessary elements into a compact 75 square feet package, making it the smallest human underwater treadmill in the world.

Mirage Pro is more powerful and can be used for both hydrotherapy and athletic training. It comes with relevant add-ons like an incline and tall and long versions.

Final Words

Human underwater treadmills are versatile tools that can be a great addition to your home, fitness center, or physical therapy business. They offer a number of benefits over traditional treadmills and are far more practical than pools needed for hydrotherapy and athletic training. Make sure you work with the best underwater treadmill manufacturer for optimal ROI from this equipment.