The effects of treadmill type on heart rate and pain threshold velocity in individuals with lower-extremity musculoskeletal pain.
METHODS
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
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Langford
Brian J
BJ
Eglin AFB Hospital, Eglin, FL, USA.
Jones
Evan M
EM
Cowan
James E
JE
Hollingsworth
Danny J
DJ
Deyle
Gail D
GD
Douglas
S Christie
SC
Allison
Stephen C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017288:Pain Threshold; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running