Best Treadmill for Bad Knees: 6 Picks and What to Look For
How to pick a treadmill when your knees are sore, what the research says about cushioned decks, and which of our six models fits which walker.
The best treadmill for bad knees is one you can start slowly, hold on to safely and adjust in small steps. For most walkers, that's the Body-Solid Endurance T50. It starts at 0.1 mph and has full-length handrails.
If you still jog, look at the Endurance T150. It's the only pick listed with a 22-inch-wide belt. We sell every model below, and you can see them all in our treadmills collection.
Look for a low starting speed, a belt wide enough to walk without stepping off, side handrails, a stop key and gentle incline. Treat a cushioned deck as a comfort feature. None of the sources we cite here show that it protects your knees.
Key takeaways
- Starting speeds: T50 0.1 mph, T150 and Light Commercial 0.5 mph, T25 1 mph.
- Look for a belt at least 22 x 50 inches, side handrails and an emergency stop.
- Deck cushioning is about feel, not proven knee protection.
- Start flat, add incline slowly and stop if pain gets worse.
What to look for in the best treadmill for bad knees
We'd lead with a steady step, not cushioning.
- Starting speed. A belt that starts very slowly lets you find your stride before you speed up. The Arthritis Foundation's treadmill guide suggests starting on a slow setting for three to five minutes.
- Belt size. The Arthritis Foundation says the belt "should be at least 22 inches wide and 50 inches long." That size, the guide says, reduces the risk of stepping off by accident.
- Side handrails. "Never use a treadmill that only has a front handrail," says an expert in the Arthritis Foundation's guide. Side rails help you balance as you start.
- Emergency stop. An expert in the Arthritis Foundation's guide calls it "the single most important feature on a control panel." You need to be able to stop fast if you get sudden or severe joint pain or feel faint.
- Incline. It's optional. If you want to try it, we suggest starting flat.
- Deck feel. Cushioned decks and slat belts feel different underfoot. It's a comfort choice.
- Space and power. Check the footprint, weight and outlet.
Does a cushioned treadmill deck help bad knees?
None of the sources we cite here show that it does.
One brand's page (SOLE) says its deck cuts impact by up to 40% compared with running on asphalt, and it cites no study. The Arthritis Foundation calls a cushioned belt nice to have if you have the budget. It says it can reduce joint impact, but it cites no study.
So pick a deck by feel. Choose the machine on starting speed, belt size, rails and the stop key.
Walking vs running: what one lab study measured
In a study of 14 healthy adults, peak knee load was three times higher in running than in walking. Peak knee load is the hardest force on the knee in each step. It was 8.02 times body weight in running and 2.72 times in walking.
There's a catch. Runners take longer strides, so they need fewer steps to cover the same ground. Per meter traveled, the load was about the same (0.80 vs 0.75 times body weight). So walking is gentler per step, but not clearly per mile.
Shin impact on a self-powered treadmill
Another lab study compared walking and running on the ground, on a motorized treadmill and on a non-motorized one. The non-motorized treadmill "produced large reductions in tibial acceleration." That's shin impact, not knee load.
It also found different steps and harder-working leg muscles on it.
What about knee arthritis?
A 2013 CDC report calls walking "a low-impact, acceptable, convenient, inexpensive, feasible, and proven physical activity intervention" for adults with arthritis.
Studies on walking and knee pain don't agree, though.
In one large group of adults 50 and older with knee osteoarthritis, those who walked for exercise developed frequent knee pain less often. In another study of people with knee pain, walking "decreased the odds of pain resolution." Both only track patterns. Neither proves cause, so your clinician's advice matters more than any treadmill feature.
Does incline help or hurt sore knees?
In one lab study, one measure of knee loading was lower on steeper grades. In the study, 15 healthy men walked at about 3 mph on grades from 0% to 20%.
The peak knee abduction moment, a measure of side-to-side knee loading, was lower than on level ground at 10%, 15% and 20% grade. The drop at 5% wasn't significant.
The men were healthy. The study used one speed and lab measures, not pain. It doesn't show incline is better or worse for your knees.
Our suggestion is simple. Walk flat until that feels fine. Then try a small step, such as 1%, and drop back if pain rises. Four of our six picks list an incline range. The T50 and the Curve don't.
Our picks for bad knees, by need
Best for walking and easing back in: Endurance T50
The T50 suits walkers who want a 0.1 mph start and plenty to hold on to. Its speed runs from 0.1 to 5 mph. The weight limit is 310 lb.
Downside: it's a walking treadmill with a 5 mph top speed and no incline listed. The 18.9 x 53 in belt is narrower than the Arthritis Foundation's 22-inch guide. Its page doesn't list a stop key. Confirm the stop key (or safety key) before you order, and ask us if you're unsure.
It moves in 0.1 mph steps, has 2-inch-thick handrails along its full length and has a wide rear entry ramp.
Body-Solid Endurance T50 Walking Treadmill
Walking treadmill with 310 lb capacity, 29.5 in width, and lifetime frame warranty
Best for walkers who want a 0.1 mph start and full-length handrails.
Best if you still jog: Endurance T150
The T150 suits anyone who still jogs or plans to. It runs from 0.5 to 12.5 mph with 0% to 15% incline. Its 22 x 60 in running surface is the only one listed here that meets the 22-inch width guide.
Its page also names a specific cushioning system: an 8-point elastomer system with a 1-inch cushioned deck. That's about feel. It has a large emergency stop button with a safety key and a 400 lb weight limit.
Downside: it weighs 285 lb, ships by freight and needs its own dedicated 110v outlet, a type called NEMA 5-20P.
Body-Solid Endurance T150 Commercial Treadmill
Commercial treadmill: 4 HP motor, 0.5–12.5 mph, 0–15% incline
Best for walkers who also jog and want room to speed up.
Best for small rooms: Endurance T25 Folding
The T25 suits tight rooms. It folds from 76 inches long down to 50 inches, and it has transport wheels. The belt is 20.5 x 57 in, the incline runs 0% to 12%, and it has an emergency stop safety key.
Downside: the slowest speed is 1 mph, the highest starting speed of the picks that list one. Its 275 lb weight limit is also the lowest one listed here, and the machine itself weighs 260 lb.
Body-Solid Endurance T25 Folding Treadmill
Folding treadmill: 2 HP continuous motor, 1–10 mph, 275 lb max user weight
Best if you need to fold the treadmill away between walks.
A light-commercial option: Muscle D Light Commercial
The Muscle D Light Commercial covers slow walks to fast runs, from 0.5 to 12 mph. Its page lists incline as 0 to 15 degrees. That's probably a page error, since the product photo labels the control "Incline %". Check the manual, and don't read 15 degrees as a steeper grade than 15%.
Downside: its page doesn't list the belt size or the weight limit. It lists aluminum side rails but doesn't say whether there's a stop key. Ask us before you order so you know it fits you.
For runners who like a slat belt: STEPR All-In Tread XL
The STEPR All-In Tread XL uses a shock-absorbing slat belt. The running surface is 21.6 x 63 in. It goes up to 13.7 mph with 0% to 15% incline, holds up to 440 lb and adds sled push, sled pull and manual modes.
STEPR's page says the slats reduce stress on joints. None of the sources we cite here test that, so judge by feel.
Downside: it's built for performance training. Its page lists 0-13.7 mph in 22 speed levels but gives no minimum running speed. The machine weighs 363 lb, and the footprint is 6 x 5.8 ft.
A different feel, not for most sore knees: Muscle D Curve
The Muscle D Commercial Self-Powered Curve Treadmill has no motor and needs no outlet. The belt moves only when you push it with your feet. It holds up to 450 lb.
Downside: there's no gentle, steady belt start. You set the pace with every step. We'd point most readers to the T50 or T150 instead.
Treadmill comparison table
| Model | Speed range | Incline | Belt (W x L) or deck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance T50 | 0.1-5 mph | Not listed | 18.9 x 53 in |
| Endurance T150 | 0.5-12.5 mph | 0-15% | 22 x 60 in, elastomer cushion |
| Endurance T25 Folding | 1-10 mph | 0-12% | 20.5 x 57 in |
| Muscle D Light Commercial | 0.5-12 mph | 0-15 degrees | Not listed |
| STEPR All-In Tread XL | Up to 13.7 mph | 0-15% | 21.6 x 63 in slats |
| Muscle D Curve | You set it | Not listed | Curved, self-powered |
Of the models that list a minimum running speed, the T50 starts slowest (0.1 mph). The Light Commercial page says degrees, likely a page error, so check the manual. "Not listed" means the product page doesn't give that spec.
How to set up and use a treadmill with sore knees
Most of these steps follow the Arthritis Foundation's treadmill tips. The safety key, small incline steps and dropping back when pain keeps rising are our own cautious advice.
- Learn the start, stop and speed buttons before you walk. Never step on or off while the belt is moving.
- Set up the safety key the way your manual shows, if your model has one.
- Wear closed-toe, supportive walking shoes.
- Start on a slow setting for three to five minutes. Then raise the speed a little at a time.
- Use the side rails for balance, not to hold yourself up. If you're gripping to keep up, slow the belt down.
- Stay flat at first. Once flat walking feels fine, try a small step, such as 1%, and drop back if pain rises.
- Stop if pain gets sharp or keeps rising. The Arthritis Foundation's guide says to be able to stop if you have "sudden or severe joint pain or feel faint."
- Cool down by walking slower for a few minutes before you step off.
How much should you walk? The CDC says adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, such as 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You don't have to start there. Build up as your knees allow.
Once walking feels easy, you can add harder efforts. Our treadmill interval training guide shows how. The Arthritis Foundation notes that "interval training is not for beginners," so wait until you have a routine.
Space, power and delivery at home
These delivery facts come from our product pages.
- T50: 77 x 29.5 x 53.5 in, 162 lb. It ships by LTL freight.
- T150: 82 x 35 in footprint, 285 lb, ships by freight.
- T150 power: it needs a dedicated 110v NEMA 5-20P outlet. The page says to "plan that circuit before delivery."
- T25 size: 76 x 36 x 57 in open and 50 x 36 x 64 in folded.
- T25 shipping: 260 lb, LTL freight, 2 to 5 days in transit.
- Light Commercial: 80 x 36 x 60.25 in, 188 lb (214 lb shipped).
- STEPR size: 363 lb, and it runs on a standard 110V outlet.
- STEPR delivery: curbside to white glove. Assembly comes only with white glove.
- Muscle D Curve: 350 lb, ships by LTL freight, needs no outlet.
Measure the room, doorways and stairs. Check the outlet before delivery day. Leave clear floor behind and beside the belt, and use the manual for exact clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Is a treadmill bad for bad knees?
None of the studies cited here show that treadmill walking is harmful by itself, but studies on knee pain disagree. Walking puts far less peak load on the knee per step than running, and a 2013 CDC report calls walking low-impact for adults with arthritis. See a clinician first if your pain is new, sharp or getting worse.
Is walking or running harder on the knees?
Running puts about three times more peak load on the knee per step, based on one lab study. Measured per meter traveled, the load was about the same.
Is a treadmill easier on the knees than walking outside?
We found no study we can cite showing a motorized treadmill is easier on the knees than walking outside. One lab study measured shin impact, not knee load, and found large reductions on a non-motorized treadmill, compared with walking on the ground or on a motorized treadmill.
A treadmill can give you side rails for balance and a stop key, which outdoor walking doesn't.
Is a treadmill better than an elliptical or a stationary bike for sore knees?
None of the studies cited here compare them, and we cite no solid research on it. Pick the one you can use comfortably, and ask your clinician or physical therapist.
Can I use a treadmill with knee arthritis?
A 2013 CDC report calls walking a proven activity for adults with arthritis. Research on walking and knee pain is mixed, so check with your clinician before you start.
How fast should I walk on a treadmill with bad knees?
We can't give an mph target, because the sources we cite don't give one. Start on a slow setting for three to five minutes, then speed up a little at a time. The Arthritis Foundation's guide says to slow down rather than grip the rails to keep up.
Choosing the best treadmill for bad knees
For most walkers the best treadmill for bad knees is the T50, or the T150 if you still jog.
Sources
- Arthritis Foundation: How to Choose and Use a Treadmill
- Miller et al. (2014), PubMed 24042311
- Montgomery et al. (2016): Tibial impacts and muscle activation during walking, jogging and running when performed overground, and on motorised and non-motorised treadmills
- Haggerty et al. (2014), PubMed 24472218
- Lo et al. (2022): Association Between Walking for Exercise and Symptomatic and Structural Progression in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis
- Felson et al. (2021), PubMed 33901642
- CDC MMWR report (2013) on walking and arthritis
- CDC: Adult Activity: An Overview
