treadmill research and lower-extremity musculoskeletal pain

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J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2003 Sep;33(9):532-7.

The effects of treadmill type on heart rate and pain threshold

velocity in individuals with lower-extremity musculoskeletal pain.

Langford BJ, EM, Cowan JE, Hollingsworth DJ, Deyle GD,

SC 3rd, SC.

Eglin AFB Hospital, Eglin, FL, USA.

STUDY DESIGN: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design in

which subjects served as their own controls.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether heart rate, pain threshold velocity,

and pain perception varied in patients running on a soft-belt

treadmill versus a standard hard-belt treadmill.

BACKGROUND: According to promotional literature, the relatively new

Orbiter soft-belt tread produces a greater increase in heart rate at

a given velocity as well as a higher velocity tolerance while walking

or running. The manufacturer also asserts that decreased forces

transmitted through the lower extremity should decrease pain levels

while exercising on the soft-belt treadmill.

METHODS AND MEASURES: Twenty-seven subjects walked or ran on each of

2 treadmills at incrementally increasing velocities until they

experienced either the onset of pain or an increase in pain from

baseline levels. Locomotion continued for 2 minutes after that,

during which time heart rate and pain level on a visual analog scale

(VAS) were recorded.

RESULTS: Two univariate paired t tests and a Wilcoxon's signed rank

test revealed a greater heart rate and pain threshold velocity when

using the soft-belt treadmill with no statistical difference in the

pain reported between the 2 treadmills.

CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a 10% higher heart rate and a 14.5%

higher pain threshold velocity with the soft-belt treadmill compared

to a hard-belt treadmill. These differences are considered clinically

meaningful.