Expert: Kim Farmer - 1/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: I would like for someone to explain to me why running on an inclined treadmill would cause one to get more exercise.  Running up hill yes because one is lifting ones body but on a treadmill no such altitude gain is attained.  It seems to me that there would be no advantage to running on an incline other than to change the position of one's ankles and perhaps hit a slightly different set of muscles but that the aerobic load would be substantially the same no matter if one were on a 0 or a 10 incline.  Speed would make a difference but not degrees of incline.  If I am not correct in this could you please explain why?  This incline thing seems to be "common knowledge" but wrong to me.  In my own experience it SEEMS that changing the incline has no effect.

ANSWER: Hello Carol-
Good question.  Your muscles are simply working harder to move your body weight up an incline or up a hill.  Your heart is doing more work when you are walking on an inclined surface, period.  In fact, the next time you are on a treadmill, do a test and see if the calories that it calculates for walking on a flat surface is less than when you are walking on an inclined surface at the same pace for the same amount of time.  I guarantee you that it will be.

I am interested to know the results of your test, pls keep me updated!  kfarmer@Milehighfitness.com

Thanks for the question,
Kim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Kim,
ummm, the problem with a treadmill on an incline is that one is not running uphill.... my position in relation to the wall next to me never changes at all.... IF i were to take a step up the incline and the treadmill move me back down a foot or two and then i were to take another step up the incline and repeat the process over and over i would be lifing my body up and the treadmill would be sliding me back down but that is not what happens.... as i say i stay in exactly the same position never ever getting any higher as the treadmill moves under me....  i noticed this because when i am running at one speed with a zero degree incline and then change the incline to 10 degrees without changing the speed of the treadmill my heart rate doesn't change a bit... surely i am not unique in this... when i run up hills outdoors i sure notice the difference between flat and up hill.... i ran right down to my basement and tried this out, the treadmill says i am burning more calories but my heart rate remains precisely the same for the five minutes i ran after changing the incline.... is suspect the treadmill is not correct in the calorie calculation

Answer
Hello-
I'm wondering if there is something wrong with the treadmill that you are using....For my own treadmill and with others that I've used in a gym setting, there is definitely a noticeable incline, even from just looking at the treadmill.  Perhaps you should try a different treadmill and see if you get different results.

Thanks for the follow up.

Kim