Maybe it is no coincidence that running on a treadmill is seen as torture by many people. The treadmill which is one of the most popular and fun to use cardio equipment today has a strange and disturbing history.
It was originally designed as a rehabilitation device in prisons in England. In 1818 British engineer Sir William Cubitt (1785–1861) developed these running belts (penal treadwheel or everlasting staircase) for use in prisons. Cubitt was a prominent engineer who played a major role in projects such as supervising the construction of the Crystal Palace in London. Eventually, he was knighted by Queen Victoria for his contributions.
These so-called treadmills were actually designed to bring some innovation to the prisons of the time, which were in such poor conditions. The poor conditions were causing many social movements and were a problem for the country. As a result, the prisons were reshaped and occupied with this “new technology”. Later it transformed into a way of hard labor punishment.
We must note that these running belts were not very similar to today’s treadmills. The machine used in prisons was a long wooden cylinder with a metal frame. It was about 6 feet in diameter. There were wooden steps spaced about 7.5 inches apart on the outside of the cylinder. When the prisoner put his foot on this step, the wheel turned, and he was forced to step on the next one. These treadmills were much more like escalators but think that you took the wrong one and you must keep moving if you don’t want to fall.
The sessions were long, up to 6 hours with small 5-minute breaks. Each treadmill was divided by a wooden partition and there were 18 to 25 prisoners in each section. Prisoners could not communicate with other prisoners and could only see the wall in front of them. It was a hard and cruel punishment. During the sessions, prisoners had to do a continuous climbing motion. It was equivalent to climbing a 14,000-step staircase. They were doing this for five days a week with little food.
The government on the other hand found ways to profit from this work power, it was practically a human-powered motor with the power of a small watermill. They used this motion to grind wheat, pump water, or ventilate mines.
Over time, many prisons in England adopted this rehabilitation method. Although these mechanisms were designed to punish prisoners, they also contributed to the rebuilding of the British economy after the Napoleonic wars. These punishment devices were also adopted by the USA. But only four were constructed, and three of them were soon abandoned.
It is known that world-famous writer Oscar Wilde also served two years in prison in 1895 and he had to use these punishment treadmills. This experience had a profound impact on his mental and physical well-being and contributed to his poor health. He passed away three years after his release from prison.
The use of treadmills as a form of punishment declined over time and they were eventually abolished in late 1902.
As you can see, the history of the treadmills and their origin as a tool of punishment is an interesting reminder of the harsh conditions of the past. Luckily, today treadmills are used for exercise, health benefits, and recreation and have become a popular form of cardio equipment that is fun to use.
