Hand / Arm position

[whoami123]

This is probably the most bizarre question ever asked here, but here goes:

I run on a treadmill. The first run or two I spent most of the time holding onto the bar at the front (heart-rate monitor things) as I was keen to know what my heart was doing, but then suffered pain across my shoulders (last place I expected to hurt!). I did some reading and, apparently, you shouldn't hold on as it can change your posture and cause such pain. So I stopped.

The only problem with that is, that I'll be going along at a nice, steady (snail's-pace) jog and all of a sudden I'll hit the emergency stop and the whole things halts. Not only is the shock of going from moving to a sudden standstill jarring, it means my data is wiped from the machine, and Laura ignores my plight and just carries on regardless, which means I miss out!

What I now do is interlace my fingers lightly in front of me so my hands don't go flying around, and hold them over my belly button. I try to ensure there is as little tension there as possible. What I'm wondering, though, is, by having my hands and arms positioned thus, will there going to be any adverse reaction? Or am I ok to carry on doing this? Many thanks!

[VictoriaRuns Graduate]

Sorry, just trying to understand a bit more. You accidentally hit the emergency stop? I run on a treadmill too and can't understand how you are doing that?

Your arms should be by your side and swing forward, not side to side, with your hands slightly clasped (I like to imagine I am holding something like a bottle or a ski pole).

It's good to be aware of your posture and that you're not hunching, shoulders back really helps my form and I've heard a lot of others say the same thing.

I was so worried about accidentally hitting the stop button when I first started on a treadmill but soon found that would be near impossible. More info please! 😭

[pinkaardvark Graduate]

It's hard to visualise without doing it, but when I run on a mill my hand pump from my chest down to my hip so don't go near the stop button which is usually in the centre of a treadmill by your navel. You should also move back a ways from the bar when running, so maybe your not doing this and find yourself too close. If you are worried about coming off the end you could always use the clip on emergency brake line most seem to have(though I don't recall ever seeing one used).

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

When you run, the pumping of your arms in a forward/ backward motion is an essential part of the process. Running up a hill is virtually impossible without pumping your arms.

Your hands should be loose, not clenched, arms bent at the elbow at approximately 90 degrees. As they swing back, imagine you are reaching for your back pocket. As they come forward they will have a tendency to come across the body, but your finger tips should never come across the centre line of your body. Keep the action solely fore and back, rotation is counter productive. This all needs to be relaxed, with no tensions, otherwise you will develop achey muscles.

I have only run on a dreadmill on one occasion, while having a gait analysis, so know very little about the infernal machines. I would suggest you run a bit further away from the stop button, if possible.

[whoami123 Graduate]

Thanks everyone!

DoYouRemember21 - I don't really know how I do it. But it has happened a few times: twice in one session, even. I suspect it's a combination of two things, that my arms cross my body too much and that I do stand very close to the front of the machine. I think the former comes from my rather odd walking gait (but it works for me so I'm not planning on changing it!) and the latter from, as pinkaardvark says, a slight fear of coming off the back (but also wanting to be near enough the controls that I can change them easily).

IannodaTruffe - thanks for the tips. I think I shall be more mindful of my arms and see what, exactly, I'm doing with them. I do make a conscious effort now to keep the shoulders relaxed but I will also stop keeping my fingers together. Maybe I should buy magnets so the fingers repel each other...?

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to whoami123]

Ah right, well hopefully it will happen no more 🙂 just be very conscious of your arms going across your body as this misspends a lot of energy (more than you would think) Good luck on your journey!

[Theziggy Graduate]

Try walking on the machine without holding the bars and then start jogging slowly.

I know some people who, for some reason, are unable to use treadmills, poor balance, nausea, dizziness, etc.