Here’s Why the Curved Treadmill is Superior for HIIT Running Workouts…

The curved treadmill is the best treadmill option for HIIT running workouts, and it’s not even close.

In this article I’m going to break down all of the reasons why the curved version of the treadmill lends itself better to HIIT running workouts. It’s a technology that is far better designed for the variable speed and the different running gait across the speed domain, making your workout more effective overall.

If you’ve never used a one, I think by the end of the article you’ll be looking for one!

Curved treadmills (or non-motorised treadmill if you’re a scientist) have been around for over a decade now, but they’ve never really penetrated the mainstream fitness market. They tend to be used only by strength and conditioning facilities like mine.

That’s a shame, because if more operators were willing to buy them, news of their effectiveness would spread further amongst the mainstream gym users.

Why a Curved Treadmill Suits HIIT Running Workouts…

No pre-programming

If you want to do a HIIT running workout on a standard treadmill effectively, you’ll have to pre-programme it. That’ll mean inputting the time and duration of the speed changes, and the speeds you’d like to run and rest at. That’s a long process that you don’t have to do on a curved machine.

The ability to perform the full HIIT workout without the need to constantly push buttons (whilst running) to adjust speed is a much-welcomed element of treadmill based HIIT workouts.

Smoother speed transitions on a curved treadmill

The nature of a HIIT running workout means there’s lots of speed changes. With a curved treadmill, you adjust your speed by simply running faster or slowing down – you don’t need to press anything. That makes the transition between fast and slow sections smooth and safer.

Take a look at how easy it is to transition through different speeds – not a single button is pushed and you can go from walking, to running, to sprinting and back…

More natural running technique

The curved running surface allows for a more natural running gait at any speed, but at higher speeds it really comes into its own. The smooth arc allows for better foot striking, smoother leg turnover, less joint impact and better mechanics. Overall, this lowers the injury risk (more on this later).

The ability to strike the foot in different positions, plus the long stride length, smoother leg turnover and lower impact forces are huge benefits. If you’re performing lots of HIIT running workouts on the treadmill, the technique enhancements afforded to you by the curved treadmill will be vital.

Harder workouts with a curved treadmill

In a snappily-titled study ‘Non-motorized Treadmill Running Is Associated with Higher Cardiometabolic Demands Compared with Overground and Motorized Treadmill Running’, researchers found that the curved treadmill gave a harder workout, and burned more calories compared to a normal treadmill or ground running.

This was followed by another study from Eastern Washington University showing that on an equivalent basis (the same workout performed on a curved and traditional flat treadmill), the curved version of the treadmill burned a huge 44% more calories!

Basically, you’ve got a far more efficient way to train. You can get the same benefits as a regular flat treadmill, in a lot less time.

Lower injury risk

One of the more interesting studies around curved treadmills shows that they could lower the injury risk. In a study titled ‘The effect of an innovative non-motorized treadmill on walking and running biomechanics‘, researchers concluded that…

“Results highlight the ability of an adjustable non-motorized treadmill in enhancing the muscle activation on antigravitational muscles; the combination with a curved surface widens the range of motion at the ankle but reduces the trunk ROM when running. This can be correlated with lower impact loads at the feet, as reported by the subjects, due to the curved treadmill surface.”

The lower impact loads reduce joint pressure, reducing injury risk.

Why the Curved Treadmill is Superior for HIIT Running Workouts – Final Thoughts

By its very nature, a HIIT workout is designed to be efficient. Anything that further increases this efficiency is surely a good thing.

The curved treadmill allows a more natural running gait, lower injury risk, smoother speed transitions, no mid-running button pushes, higher calorie burn and a harder workout. It’s as clear a result as you could possibly want.

So, if you’re wondering what type of treadmill you want for HIIT workouts, the answer is clear – a curved one, every single time.

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