{"id":188686,"date":"2025-06-16T09:58:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T09:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/188686\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T09:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T09:58:13","slug":"which-should-you-use-for-your-fitness-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/188686\/","title":{"rendered":"Which should you use for your fitness goals?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people swear by walking<\/a><\/strong> to stay healthy. But some don\u2019t find the time and wish they had a treadmill at home \u2014 which often remains a distant dream owing to price and space constraints. Enter walking pads, a small, compact, lightweight gadget designed for gentle walking<\/a><\/strong> or very low-intensity jogging. Wondering what they are, and how different are they from a treadmill? We have all the answers!<\/p>\n

\u201cWalking pads are designed to be easily used in small areas. They are perfect for people with limited room because they are usually foldable, and can be easily hidden under furniture when not in use,\u201d said Dr Neha Badgujar, head physiotherapist, Manipal Hospital, Baner \u2013 Pune<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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In contrast to conventional treadmills, which are bigger and have high running speed, walking pads \u2014 also known as under-desk or mini-treadmills \u2014 offer settings that can support moderate to high-intensity cardiac workouts. \u201cThe main differences between treadmills and walking pads can be observed in their features and designs. Treadmills come equipped with technological methods<\/a><\/strong> like heart rate monitors and incline changes, and are designed to accommodate a variety of physical activities, from walking to vigorous running,\u201d said Dr Badgujar.<\/p>\n

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Walking pads, on the other hand, are generally limited to lower speeds (around 2-4 mph), making them suitable for walking rather than running, said Dr Hitesh Garg, head, ortho spine surgery, Artemis Hospitals. \u201cAlso, treadmills offer a wider range of speeds and are designed for both walking and running, making them bulkier and more powerful,\u201d added Dr Garg.<\/p>\n

\"knees\" Let\u2019s understand more about how walking pads are beneficial for your legs (Source: Freepik)<\/p>\n

Walking pads have a simplified design with a flat surface and often lack handrails or an inclined feature. \u201cTraditional treadmills are bulkier, with larger belts, handrails, and often include inclines for more intense workouts,\u201d mentioned Dr Garg.<\/p>\n

\"Festive<\/a><\/p>\n

Thus, walking pads provide a straightforward, practical choice for walking at a leisurely pace or modest exercise, free of more functions. \u201cThe use of walking pads can help with weight control, cardiovascular health, mood and energy improvement, achieving daily walking goals and encouraging physical exercise by breaking sedentary spells,\u201d said Dr Badgujar.<\/p>\n

Walking pads offer low-impact movement, which is easier on the joints in comparison to running on traditional treadmills. According to Dr Garg, for people with joint pain, arthritis, or post-surgical recovery, walking pads provide a gentle way to stay active without exacerbating joint discomfort or risking injury.<\/p>\n

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Regular walking on a walking pad can help improve joint mobility and maintain flexibility, especially in the hips and knees. \u201cThis is important for people who spend long periods sitting, as it helps counteract stiffness and promotes healthy circulation,\u201d said Dr Garg.<\/p>\n

Due to ease of use, people tend to use devices more frequently, which makes it simpler to fit regular exercise into daily routines\u2014even in small spaces or with a hectic schedule. \u201cConsistent use of walking pads helps in improving posture, as you are often walking<\/a><\/strong> upright while multitasking. Maintaining proper alignment while walking can reduce the strain on the spine and improve muscle balance,\u201d said Dr Garg.<\/p>\n

What more?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For those recovering from orthopedic surgeries or injuries, walking pads can serve as an accessible and controlled way to reintroduce movement, stressed Dr Garg. \u201cThe lower speeds and simplicity make them ideal for gradual rehabilitation,\u201d said Dr Garg.<\/p>\n

While this may trend look tempting to stay active it may not be suitable for everyone. \u201cThe walking desk can pose various life-threatening risks,\u201d cautioned Dr Anup Khatri, senior consultant, orthopedics, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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It can significantly increase the risk of injuries, fractures, slips, and falls, as you can easily get distracted while working and walking on a treadmill. \u201cIt can also make it difficult to concentrate on your work like typing, reading, or writing due to frequent leg movements. For some people, it can cause extreme back, knee, and foot pain or strain if the right posture is not maintained,\u201d noted Dr Khatri.<\/p>\n

DISCLAIMER:\u00a0This article is based on information from the public domain and\/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many people swear by walking to stay healthy. But some don\u2019t find the time and wish they had…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":188687,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4322],"tags":[1630,105,77448,4990,77446,77447,16,15,77445],"class_list":{"0":"post-188686","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-ideal-for-recovery-and-improving-cardiovascular-health","11":"tag-indianexpress-com","12":"tag-joint-friendly","13":"tag-space-saving","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom","16":"tag-walking-pads-offer-low-impact-exercise"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114692456780773063","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}