Not every treadmill comes with a heart rate monitor, though. Only the newer models, and usually the more expensive ones, have this feature. But the monitor is certainly a worthwhile feature to have on a treadmill. Using a treadmill is considered one of the best forms of cardio exercises, so if your treadmill comes with a feature for monitoring your heart rate, you should use it to make sure how your heart is doing.
Sometimes a treadmill heart rate monitor will be a strap that you wrap around your wrist while you jog on the treadmill. The strap will have a wire on it that runs back to the treadmill and you will be able to see your heart rate readings on an LCD screen. Other treadmills have the heart rate monitor on the handles or in another place where you grab the handles and hold onto them while the device checks your heart rate and then displays it for you.
Either treadmill monitor option is fairly comfortable to use; it just depends on your preference. The wrist strap has you attached to the treadmill, which some people do not like. The handle bar monitor makes you reach for it and hang on for a few seconds, which is an inconvenience for others. But you have to admit, both options are so much more comfortable than the way they do it at the doctors office.
In order to get the best use of your treadmill heart rate monitor, it is important to know your optimal heart rate before, during and after your workout. This way you can see if your workout is doing the job or if you need to step it up or slow it down a bit to achieve the best results.
It's a good idea to ask your physician what your optimal heart rate should be before, during and after a workout. Write these numbers down so you don't forget. It's a good idea to keep them posted someplace where they are easy to see during your workout. Compare the results on your heart rate monitor with these figures.
Using the treadmill monitor wisely and consistently can have a big impact on your workout and on your overall health. You can exercise smarter and get the best results more quickly with proper monitoring of your heart rate.