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History of the Treadmill

By katherineg575

  • "A Broad Endless Strap"

    Oliver Evans described "a broad endless strap of thin pliant leather revolving over two pulleys in a case ortrough". Maybe this was the start?
  • Horse Treadmill

    Horse Treadmill

    Horse treadmill patent.
  • First Operational Treadmill

    First Operational Treadmill

    First operational treadmill was created (meant to harness animal power to churn butter, spin wheels, or pump water, ect.)
  • Conveyor Belts in Factories

    Conveyor Belts in Factories

    Treadmills/coveyor belts were common in factories (Expecially Ford Motors) They reduced labor costs significantly which made products afforable to the public.
  • Popular Science Magazine

    Popular Science Magazine

    Popular Science magazine published an article describing how treadmills can be used as a “training track”.
  • The Stress Test

    The Stress Test

    Robert E. Bruce first thought to use the treadmill for humans to walk on as a stress-test to test a patients vital signs and heart health.
  • George Jetson and Astro

    George Jetson and Astro

    Cartoon featured a popular character George Jetson running the treadmill with his dog Astro.
  • Period: to

    Fully Accepted

    By this decade, the treadmill was fully accepted as a vital, futuristic, and convenient piece of exercise equipment.

  • The PaceMaster

    Aerobics Inc. began full scale production of PaceMaster, one of the first affordable at-home treadmills.

  • The Anti-Gravity Treadmill

    The Anti-Gravity Treadmill was originally conceived in 1992 by Dr. Robert Whalen and physician Alan Hargens at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA to design effective exercise regimens for NASA’s astronauts.
  • Treadmill in Space Stations

    Treadmill in Space Stations

    NASA installed a treadmill in the space station to help astronauts keep fit in zero-gravity conditions.

  • AlterG was founded

    AlterG was founded in 2005 by Sean Whalen, son of the NASA researcher Robert Whalen who built the first prototype.
  • First Prototype of the AntiGravity Treadmill

    First Prototype of the AntiGravity Treadmill

    The first prototype of the Anti-Gravity Treadmill was produced. Installed for the Nike Oregon Project under the supervision of accomplished track and field coach and former Olympic marathoner Alberto Salazar.

  • Antigravity Treadmill sold Commercially

    The Anti-Gravity Treadmill was first commercially sold in November 2006, several months after the prototype model was sold to Salazar at the Nike Oregon Project.
  • Washington Wizards purchase an AlterG

    Washington Wizards purchase an AlterG

    The Washington Wizards, with Head Athletic Trainer Eric Waters, were the first professional sports franchise to purchase an AlterG in November 2006

  • Introduced in Europe

    The Anti-Gravity Treadmill was first introduced in Europe in 2008 and sold to AC Milan.
  • Alter G Cleared by the FDA

    Alter G Cleared by the FDA