AboutScott Demaree Expertise I can answer questions about training, physiology, nutrition, technique, equipment and injury prevention. My background is not medical, so I will not be able to answer detailed questions about injury treatment. However, during 30 years of endurance exercise I have had a few injuries so I feel qualified to talk about things that have worked for me and others.
Experience I have been a long distance runner since 1978 and took up racewalking in 1982. More recently, I have worked as a certified personal trainer helping people with a wide range of exercise needs. Last year, I coached several people to successfully finish the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Dallas (60 miles in three days).
Organizations American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, National Science Teachers Association
Publications Journal articles associated with my graduate work with me as the primary author were published in the Journal of Nutrition, Acta Physiologica Scandanavica. Additionally, I co-authored the chapter on exercise metabolism in ACSM's Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 4th Edition. Finally. I co-authored a book for beginning marathon runners (Marathoning 101).
Education/Credentials I have recent Master's degrees in Exercise Science from Wichita State University and Nutrition from Texas A&M University.
Awards and Honors I won national championships in the 1986 100-Kilometer Racewalk and the 1989 24-Hour Run.
Expert: Scott Demaree Date: 7/20/2008 Subject: Treadmill walking on incline
Question Hi Scott,
I have an older treadmill, which I try to use daily. I'm thin and in good health. Everytime I use the incline, my lower back hurts. I've been to a chiropractor and doctor and there is nothing physically wrong. The interesting thing is that I can walk outside uphill without any pain. Could I be walking incorrectly uphill on the treadmill? Could it be the old treadmill? Could it be the shoes? Do I need to work through this and build strength? Is it O.K. to just walk without using the incline? Am I getting any benefits without using an incline? Thanks for your input!!
Answer You must be using a different posture on the treadmill than you do outside. On a treadmill, most people tend to bend over more to watch where they put their feet. So if you can walk more uprightly and naturally like you walk uphill outside, the back problem should improve.
You certainly can get benefits from walking without an incline. However, you can tone different muscles by working out up and down hills. Most treadmills can't simulate walking downhill, so there are advantages to going outside on real hills.
I agree that some careful back exercises could help with the problem as well. Check with some books or a personal trainer about which exercises are appropriate.
As long as your shoes are good quality running shoes and have less than 500 miles on them, you should be OK. A running specialty store can help put you in the right shoes for your personal mechanics.
