What Age Can a Child Use a Treadmill?

The growing exercise movement has encouraged us to practice anywhere. Therefore, many people decide to buy a running exercise machine at home. The treadmill is a popular choice for home gyms because it can bring great benefits to people of any age. Generally speaking, in a family, parents use the running exercise machine more frequently, and children often imitate their parents and want to use the running exercise machine. However, this device is really powerful and contains potential dangers. So, what age can a child use the running exercise machine? Children from 12 to 13 years old can use this device. Yet, you should check the user manual to be on the safe side. To learn more about this issue, continue reading the article below!

What are the running exercise machine dangers for kids?
Studies have shown that children under the age of 16 are more likely to experience injury when using a home running exercise machine. Children may not be able to keep up with the high speeds a running machine reaches, so they may trip and fall when using it. And when children move unnoticed near the appliance, the moving belt can get caught in their hair, clothes, or small fingers. The relentless movement of the belt will cause friction, burns, or serious injury to children. Things get worse when no one detects and stops the device early. About 3.5% of all burns in children are friction burns. Many cases are so severe that doctors have to order plastic surgery or skin grafts. In addition to the moving parts of the running exercise machine posing a significant risk to children, the power cord is also dangerous. Children can strangle themselves while playing with the cord, so you must mount the cord in such a way as to make this impossible.

What age can a child use the running exercise machine?
Many brands recommend that children must be from 12 or 13 years old to use their products under parental supervision. There will be different requirements for children’s use of the running exercise machine at certain age milestones.

Any child this age should stay away from this sports equipment. At the age of 11, children often tend to be curious and want to learn about everything around them. Therefore, your kid will touch or put their hands in holes or moving objects that attract eyes. As a result, hundreds to thousands of children are hospitalized with severe finger and skin injuries each year. The treadmill should be one of the taboos like electricity or fire to prevent such bad scenarios. Please avoid any potential accident so that you will not regret it. You should pay attention to the position of the running exercise machine when deciding to buy a product for the home. The ideal area to set up a running exercise machine is a private, enclosed, locked room. If the space is open, consider unplugging and removing the safety key when not in use. Parents should also explain to their children the dangers of the running exercise machine before installing it.

2. Ages 12 to 13
At this age, you can consider letting your child use a running exercise machine if they are mature and responsible. Parents must always be around and supervise at all times. There will be times when you can’t keep an eye on your child. At this point, what matters is their commitment.

3. Ages 14 and above
A child over 14 years old who is mature enough to use the running exercise machine under the supervision of a parent or guardian. Exercising early on can be a good habit and beneficial for health. The running exercise machine come in handy, and your child needs a daily exercise routine.

What are the running exercise machine safety rules?
Prevention is still better than cure. If you own a running exercise machine at home, pay attention to some basic safety guidelines below.

1. Locking the device when not in use
Disable the running exercise machine when you are away from home or not using the device. Some simple methods are to unplug or lock the device so your child can’t start it. If your appliance requires a cord or safety key to start, keep it out of the reach of children.

2. Making the device safer to use
To prevent the risk of children falling after a workout, leave a large enough space and put a rubber mat underneath. You should bundle power cords neatly when not in use or thread the cord through the holes to prevent children from accessing them. Always fold and store the unit upright when not in use for folding motorized treadmill. Do not let your child hang around in this area, as the appliance can fall from above.

3. Teaching your children how to use the device safely
Once a child is mature enough to use a running exercise machine safely, give them a thorough walk-through of all of its operating commands and safety features. Show them how to turn it off quickly should a problem arise. Your running exercise machine's user manual will typically provide guidelines on how old a child should be to use that particular piece of equipment. Oftentimes, the age is somewhere around 12 or 13 and up.

4. Supervise your children during the device use
Children who use a running machine without supervision may stumble, fall, and get propelled off the back or side of the running exercise machine. This can result in broken bones, head injuries, and other trauma. If you are right there, you can instantly respond. If the injury is minor, first aid treatment may be enough. If the child has friction burns, a head injury, a broken bone, is unable to move their limb, or another serious injury, seek medical attention immediately.

As we know, children from 12 years can use a treadmill. So, children younger than this age should not be used to avoid possible dangers. Once your child reaches a certain age and becomes aware enough, you can let them use the device under supervision. The important thing here is that you need to watch your little one.