Desk Treadmill – Everything You Need to Know

Using a treadmill (or in modern English, a walking pad) under the desk is becoming increasingly popular. Admittedly, it seems rather funny at first. In meetings, some heads are now moving up and down. These colleagues look a bit like a hamster in a wheel. Why not simply go for a short walk in the fresh air?

Well, unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Those who work in an office at a computer usually sit for most of the time. A standing desk might provide some variety, but it doesn’t change much about the fact that you hardly move.

It’s even worse in the home office. There, even the commute is eliminated. And in the evening, mentally exhausted, you lie down on the couch and watch Netflix.

With the lack of movement come the problems: back pain, obesity, exhaustion. Not to mention the long-term consequences like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and so on…

Therefore, I would like to address some reservations about walking pads here, but at the same time inform you about potential problems.

How useful is a treadmill under the desk?

We’ve already touched on it: Many people nowadays sit almost all day long.

• Commuting by car or straight to the home office.
• Job at the desk.
• Sitting during breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Relaxing on the couch.

This lack of movement leads to all sorts of common health issues like back pain. With back pain, it’s then difficult to exercise. And just like that, you’re caught in a vicious cycle.

So why not spend part of the time you would normally spend sitting on a treadmill? And the desk is ideal for this.

You can start with short sessions of 15-30 minutes at a slow pace. If you stick with it, you can quickly walk several hours a day at your desk.

And then the walking pad becomes unrivaled. Because which office worker can claim to walk 3, 4, 6, or even 8 hours a day? This can’t be achieved with regular walks.

In short: It’s hard to compensate for the 8 or more hours of sitting that have become normal nowadays. A bit of gym, jogging, or swimming might help for a while. But it’s simply sensible to spend part of the time walking instead of sitting.

Here you can read more about my personal experiences with a Walking Pad.

Does a desk treadmill help with back pain?

The short answer: Yes, definitely.

The long answer: There are scientific studies showing that, for example, people with chronic lower back pain were pain-free for longer through walking (here in the Lancet). There are many anecdotal reports from people, for example with a herniated disc, whose pain was alleviated by walking. Here’s an example:

Doctors and physiotherapists also recommend walking as a light physical activity to strengthen the muscles for back pain and herniated discs. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it and should listen to your body’s signals.

Does a Walking Pad help me lose weight?

Walking can burn 200kCal per hour. Depending on speed, body weight, and so on.

That’s not much at first (equivalent to two apples, for example). However, with some practice, you can walk for several hours a day. Then you quickly burn 600kCal or more. That’s more like a meal.

So if you use the walking pad regularly for several hours a day, you can certainly see significant success in losing weight. However, it’s important to also pay attention to a calorie deficit in your diet at the same time.

You can find more information in this detailed article.

Does a desk treadmill lead to knee pain?

There are occasional reports of people experiencing knee pain after getting a walking pad.

This orthopedist points out that a slight incline of 3 degrees on a treadmill prevents knee problems. Walking on a treadmill without an incline is more comparable to walking downhill. And this causes more stress on the knees.

So it’s better to opt for a treadmill with an incline.

Or decide right away for a curved mechanical treadmill. Here, no problems with the knees are to be expected either. At the same time, it looks stylish and you save on electricity.

How fast can you walk at the desk?

Walking at your desk is more comparable to a very leisurely stroll. At least at the beginning.

Initially, a speed of 1km/h should be completely sufficient. That’s really slow. But this way you can first get used to the new situation and practice working while walking.

After some time, you can increase the speed to 2-3km/h. This is already significantly more athletic and your pulse should rise a bit. Nevertheless, working at this pace is still possible with some practice.

My personal maximum speed was 4km/h, after I had used a walking pad for a few years. Especially in summer, you start to sweat noticeably at this pace.

This pace was only possible for me long-term with an electric walking pad. It practically forces you to maintain the pace, even when your body doesn’t really want to anymore.

With a mechanical treadmill, my speed settled between 2 and 3km/h. Since you’re powering the treadmill with your own body instead of a motor, the energy consumption is naturally a bit higher.

Can you type on the keyboard while walking?

Yes, you can definitely type or use the mouse while walking. However, there are also some people who find this more difficult.

I would therefore recommend approaching it slowly. First, you should just walk on the walking pad, because it’s initially strange to move in front of the desk. After that, you can rest your hands on the table, read something on the screen, and finally start typing.

Wrist rests can be helpful here. This way you can rest your hands, which gives some security. At the same time, your hands remain stable and don’t move with the rest of your body.

Here’s an inexpensive model made of memory foam from Amazon.

However, in summer, the memory foam caused a skin rash for me, probably due to the combination of sweat and friction.

For some time now, I’ve been using DeltaHub Carpio wrist rests. They take some getting used to, but I couldn’t work without them anymore.

There are loads of electric walking pads on the market. The main advantages are the purchase price and size. Some models are available for under 200€. And many models are relatively space-saving or even foldable.

But if you look around a bit in online communities, you’ll quickly stumble upon bad experience reports. Many of these cheap models break down after just a few months. They’re simply not designed for “continuous use”. The motor is weak and can’t withstand the load. Some models literally burn out.

Mechanical walking pads don’t have this problem. They don’t have a motor and consist of durable components and industrial parts. However, high-quality ball bearings must be installed.

Moreover, mechanical walking pads like the Office Walker are very quiet. An electric walking pad, on the other hand, usually becomes unpleasantly loud over time, so that it’s difficult to use in meetings or with an open window.

For more details on mechanical vs electric treadmills, check out this article.

Unfortunately, there are only a few mechanical models on the market. And most of them cost a small fortune. The Office Walker is an exception here. We’ve managed to develop a relatively inexpensive, space-saving mechanical walking pad.

Which desk treadmills are recommended and quiet?

With so many walking pads on the market, it’s easy to get lost in the options. Below are a few models that are frequently mentioned in online discussions and reviews as suitable for office use.

As a general note, electric treadmills tend to get louder over time as motors and bearings wear out.

• Unsit: A high-quality treadmill with a strong motor, reported to operate at around 43 dB. It’s designed for professional use but comes at a premium price (around $2,500). Currently available mainly in the U.S. and Canada.
• Lifespan Walking Pads: Lifespan is considered a premium brand for electric treadmills. Prices start at around €1,200. They are built for consistent use, though some users have recently mentioned occasional delivery delays.
• Urevo 2-in-1 Treadmill: A popular budget-friendly option. Many users appreciate the value for money, though, as with most low-cost devices, long-term noise levels and durability depend on individual usage.
• A1 Pro WalkingPad: A mid-range option (around $500). Based on online discussions, it shares design similarities with other generic walking pads on the market.
• The Office Walker: A manual, motor-free walking pad designed for quiet operation in home offices. Lightweight, compact, and maintenance-free – an appealing choice for those seeking an alternative to electric models.

How much maintenance does a desk treadmill require?

Many new treadmill owners are unaware that every standard treadmill needs to be lubricated. You should (with frequent use) lift the belt of the treadmill once a week and touch the surface underneath with your hand.

Is it still greasy? If so, no lubrication is needed.

Is your hand dry? Apply a few drops of silicone oil for treadmills and you can continue.

A mechanical walking pad like the Office Walker, on the other hand, requires virtually no maintenance. Only the walking surface should be cleaned occasionally.

How much electricity does a Walking Pad consume?

A walking pad consumes between 0.3 and 0.75 kWh per hour, depending on the load. If it’s used for several hours a day, this can quickly add up to several hundred euros in electricity costs per year.

It can quickly become cost-effective to buy a mechanical treadmill. Even if it’s a larger investment initially.

What are the real costs of a desk treadmill?

Besides the electricity costs, you must also consider that cheap electric walking pads often break down quickly. If you’re “lucky,” this happens within the warranty period.

Then you only have to deal with the (often poor) customer service and insist on getting a new device instead of a new motor and brief instructions on how to replace it (all of which happened to me). After that, you just have to pack up the device (hopefully you still have the huge box) and ship it abroad. After a few weeks, you’ll receive a replacement device, which will probably break down again after a few months.

Well, at least there’s no major financial damage. But you will have lost quite a few nerves.

If the warranty has expired, you’ll of course have to consider whether to purchase a new model. You’ll be shelling out a few hundred euros again. Plus, the old device needs to be disposed of.

Apart from that, you need to oil the treadmill occasionally. However, these costs are negligible.

Conclusion: We can’t calculate the exact costs of an electric walking pad. It depends greatly on your luck. But you can expect some problems. Therefore, it makes sense to get a mechanical treadmill right from the start.

Do I need a special desk?

You definitely need a standing desk that you can raise and lower. At least if you want to work while walking. If you plan to switch between walking, standing, and sitting more often, an electric standing desk is certainly recommended.

Apart from that, stability can be crucial. Especially in the beginning, you might hold onto the desk a bit more. This can then cause the screen to wobble.

Over time, I’ve gotten used to not leaning on the desk anymore. This is recommended for good posture anyway. At the same time, this prevents the desk from wobbling.

If you don’t have a standing desk yet, you can make sure it has two legs on each side. This gives the table more stability.