Walking on nature or treadmill at home which one is better?

16 Nov Walking on nature or treadmill at home which one is better?

First of all, it should be noted that there are two types of treadmills: magnetic ones, which are not suitable for running and more for walking. And the motorized ones that are more common and suitable for running. Often, but it is not a rule, the use of the treadmill is less popular with sportsmen than going out in the open. Because “indoor” workouts are generally more boring, more tiring, and less “revitalizing”, training and satisfying.

Walking outdoors, being the surrounding environment varied, is obviously less monotonous. Especially if the workouts are long and are carried out in pleasant environments. However, even walking outdoors has various disadvantages that should not be underestimated: the landscape can be beautiful, but what if it’s raining heavily? Walking on the treadmill is undoubtedly more practical in this sense. But have you ever wondered which of the two types of running is more tiring and expensive from a caloric point of view?

Push the body forward

Walking on the carpet is, in some ways, unnatural and difficult and for some. It can be more tiring; for others, it is easier than walking outdoors. Especially if the terrain is rich in roughness and with difficult environmental conditions and/or with pollution. The use of the treadmill can be more strenuous because the forward thrust of the body is lacking. As the movement of the mat brings the foot backward just at the moment when the forefoot should push the body forward. Lacking the forward thrust, you work more with your quadriceps and – to avoid contact with the belt. You tend to lift your foot more, with the greater effort of the anterior tibialis muscle. This can lead to inflammation of some tendons and increased muscle fatigue, especially at high carpet speeds. In reality, depending on your type of walking and movement, outdoor walking may be more strenuous.

Hot, humid, and sweating

The closed environments of a gym, especially if poorly ventilated. If on the one hand, they have the advantage of allowing the practice of walking even when it is dark outside. And in spite of all weather conditions, on the other hand, they are often excessively hot and humid. With the result of having high sweating  (also determined by the absence of the typical air resistance instead of open walking, which cools the body ). And the greater difficulty in maintaining a low body temperature (high humidity prevents proper heat dispersion through sweating). Such conditions can make belt running “heavier” for the walker accustomed to walking open.

Air resistance

However, walking on the treadmill is, in other respects, easier: There is no air resistance and, thanks to the elasticity of the carpet, the impact of the body on support is reduced. Resulting in less work of the cardiorespiratory system for the same speed and slope. To have a stress on the cardiovascular system similar to that of walking on the road. In fact, you should run on the treadmill with an incline of about one percent.

Ground irregularity

Unless walking on perfect asphalt, those who walk outdoors know well how the roughness of the ground affects the session: Try walking outdoors on a well-smoothed asphalt. And doing the same route at the same time on a total surface. uneven, such as a country lane. Even the paths of the parks predisposed to walking can be full of roots, stones. And plants that make the support surface for the foot much less predictable: this forces the open walker to a surplus of energy necessary to micro-correct the movements to maintain the balance, which is lacking in the indoor walker.

Psychology

And again, from a psychological point of view, some find it as a spur, walking on the treadmill. To be able to read in real-time on the display the distance covered / still to be covered. The estimate of calorie consumption, heart rate, to be able to vary the walking speed and the slope creating a path even uphill whose difficulty can be decided moment by moment: this can make it psychologically easier to walk on the treadmill. A place that is also safe, where at any time you can press stop and ask for the assistance of the trainer and where. If desired, with your smartphone and headphones you can even watch a movie while walking.

At the same time, walking in a park full of greenery, with fellow walkers at your side. Away from the accumulation of carbon dioxide and illuminated by a beautiful sun. Can make it psychologically easier to walk outdoors. The “psychological expenditure” depends solely on you, on the way you run, on your way of relating to the space around you and it is not to be underestimated: and all of us athletes know well how much psychology can affect sports performance and the perception of fatigue.

Movement of the arms

On balance, it is slightly heavier for me to walk outdoors. Especially if immersed in a nature that offers rough terrain. One last factor that, among many others, made me lean towards this choice. It is my habit – at medium speed – of placing my hands on the special supports of the treadmill. This makes me keep my arms practically motionless during the race. closed. When I run outdoors, however, I move my arms with a certain energy and back and forth, rhythmically activating various muscles. Especially deltoids, pectorals, triceps, and brachial biceps: this affects. And not a little on the total caloric expenditure at the end of my session.