Does it really work?
Treadmills are trending, with under-desk models enjoying a new audience on TikTok. Can walking while you work deliver an easier nine-to-five?
If the standing desk positioned itself as the answer to the sedentary professional’s woes, the fitness industry has just gone one (ahem) step further. Underdesk treadmills (aka walking pads) are having a moment. Google searches for the product have spiked by 300% over the past year, while TikTok videos with the hashtag #treadmilldesk have racked up almost 90m views.
As a health and fitness writer, I’m pretty active. My workout week invariably features a combination of F45, running and yoga and, when working from home, I swap the commute for a neighbourhood walk. And yet, I still count myself among the 81% of UK workers who spend between four and nine hours sitting at a desk each day, the consequences of which include a raised risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. So when WH’s fitness editor asked me to test an under-desk treadmill for two weeks, I stepped up to the challenge.
An under-desk treadmill is a flat machine without handles that fits under your desk. Unlike standard treadmills, walking pads are designed to be used at low speeds, and most have a range of 0.5 up to 6mph. ‘[They are] a great way for busy desk workers to get their steps in and meet the NHS guidelines of 150 minutes of physical activity per week,’ says Lesley Brown, lead physiotherapist at Ten Health & Fitness, adding that the benefits of doing so range from better sleep to a boost in mood. And in news that’ll be music to your boss’s ears, David Wiener, a training specialist at fitness coaching app Freeletics, points to research suggesting they can improve your motivation, focus and productivity during the day.
With my new treadmill installed, come 9am, I hop on – ready to cruise through my cardio and to-do list simultaneously. Or at least, I try to. I like to write first thing, when my energy levels are peaking, but even with the speed turned down, I can’t focus. I soon realise that walking while engaging in tasks that require deep concentration is not the one. Bu
