From Prison Bars to Fitness Bars: The Dark Origins of the Treadmill

The treadmill is a symbol of fitness today. But its origins trace back to an era where it was less about health and more about hardship.

In the heart of the 19th century, as industrial revolution smoke blackened English skies, a new form of punishment emerged. One that seemed far removed from the lashes or chains of the past. Yet, in its own way, it was just as harsh, just as punishing. The treadmill.

Sir William Cubitt, inspired by idle prisoners, conceived the idea in 1818. The treadmill, originally named the “tread-wheel,” wasn’t designed for the modern gym-goer’s quest for a toned body. Instead, it was a mechanism of discipline, of retribution. Men would step, endlessly. There was no destination, only exertion.

The design was simple but effective. A large cylinder with a series of steps, almost like a water wheel. As prisoners climbed, the wheel turned. In some prisons, this relentless stepping powered mills, grinding grain or pumping water, turning labor into something productive. In others, the activity was purely punitive, serving no other purpose than to exhaust and reform.

Men and women, young and old, all trod the wheel. Their crimes varied — from debts to more severe offenses. The logic was simple: hard labor would instill discipline, breaking…