A treadmill has a front or rear set of pulleys and a looped running belt. The pulleys rotate with the movement of the belt, e.g., when a user walks, jogs, or runs on the treadmill. The pulleys are mounted on a rotating roller tube so that the roller tube rotates with the pulleys. The roller tube is mounted on a stationary shaft using bearings on each side and a one-way device that allows the pulleys to rotate in one direction. The rotation direction corresponds to the movement of the top of the belt from the front to the rear of the treadmill. The one-way device prevents the pulleys from rotating in the opposite direction, preventing the top of the belt from moving from the rear of the treadmill to the front. The one-way device may be a sprag clutch. The treadmill may be a motor-less, curved treadmill.

A treadmill includes a running belt defining a non-planar running surface, and a motor operatively coupled to the running belt. The treadmill is operable in plurality of operating modes to control a user experience.

An exercise assembly includes a treadmill that has a belt which can be walked upon. The belt has a braking mechanism and the braking mechanism inhibits the belt from being moved thereby presenting resistance to a user attempting to walk on the belt. A set of pull bars is coupled to and extends upwardly from the treadmill for simulating pulling a heavy object. A set of push bars is coupled to and extends upwardly from the treadmill to simulate pushing a heavy object. A spool is rotatably integrated into the treadmill and the spool is in mechanical communication with the braking mechanism such that the spool resists being rotated. A rope is wrapped around the spool and the rope resists being pulled on by the user when the user walks on the treadmill for simulating pulling a heavy object with the rope.

A treadmill includes a frame; a running belt configured to rotate relative to the frame; and a motor coupled to the running belt. The motor is operable in a plurality of user controlled operating modes. In a first operating mode, a user of the treadmill provides a force of rotation to the running belt. In a second operating mode, the motor is adapted to resist rotation of the running belt. In a third operating mode, the motor is adapted to provide a force of rotation to the running belt at a desired speed.

A treadmill includes a tread belt that is rotatable in a forward direction and a backward direction. Before changing rotation directions on the tread belt, the treadmill implements a safety action. The safety action includes an alert and input in response to the alert to improve the safety of the user.

Systems and methods are presented for performing exercises to strengthen, e.g., the transversus abdominis and related muscles. The systems and methods may involve one or more independent belts, allowing a full range of continuous motion. The systems and methods may further use a resistance-control mechanism that allows a user to adjust the force required to move the one or more belts, thereby controlling the rate of motion in the forward and/or backward directions. The systems and methods may further use a unidirectional resistance mechanism that allows the user to increase the resistance of the one or more belts in one direction, while allowing the one or more belts to move freely in the other direction.

A treadmill has a front or rear set of pulleys and a looped running belt. The pulleys rotate with the movement of the belt, e.g., when a user walks, jogs, or runs on the treadmill. The pulleys are mounted on a rotating roller tube so that the roller tube rotates with the pulleys. The roller tube is mounted on a stationary shaft using bearings on each side and a one-way device that allows the pulleys to rotate in one direction. The rotation direction corresponds to the movement of the top of the belt from the front to the rear of the treadmill. The one-way device prevents the pulleys from rotating in the opposite direction, preventing the top of the belt from moving from the rear of the treadmill to the front. The one-way device may be a sprag clutch. The treadmill may be a motor-less, curved treadmill.

A manual non-motorized exercise treadmill with the ability to provide adjustable resistance to perform strength training resistance movements and simulate the movements of an exercise drive sled in a stationary location is described. A treadmill deck of the treadmill is supported by friction-reduction rollers, a front treadmill roller and a rear treadmill roller. The treadmill is operated by the user pushing and/or pulling with the feet of the user via a belt or harness attached to adjustable stationary hand bars. Variable resistance allows for increased or decreased difficulty in achieving the exercise according to the preference and ability of the user. The resistance is configured to be applied to the rollers and/or belt, making it more difficult for the user to manually move the treadmill belt. The treadmill belt is configured to oscillate for both concentric and eccentric exercises not provided by conventional treadmills.

Disclosed are various approaches for determining the maximum oxygen consumption of a person, also known as maximum aerobic capacity or VO.sub.2 Max. A person is positioned on a treadmill. Attached to the person is a harness configured to apply a horizontal force to the person. A work rate for the person can be calculated based at least in part on the magnitude of the horizontal force applied by the harness and the velocity of the belt. The maximum oxygen consumption for the person can then be calculated based at least in part on the previously calculated work rate.

The present invention provides a manual treadmill, the manual treadmill includes a frame having a front support portion and a rear support portion, a running belt disposed about and supported by the front support portion and the rear support portion, and a speed limiting device, wherein the running belt rotates in a first rotating direction or a second rotating direction in response to a directional movement of a user. The speed limiting device includes a one-way bearing, a rotating element and a transmission element, wherein the rotating element is coupled to the front support portion, and the one-way bearing is connected to the rotating element via the transmission element to limit a speed of the running belt in the second rotating direction.