ConsoleThe panel with the display and buttons for speed and incline.
Safety keyStops the belt if the user falls back and pulls it out. A cord clips it to the user’s clothes. Removing it when not in use keeps children safe.
Motor hoodThe cover at the front over the motor that drives the belt.
Walking beltA loop that the motor drives toward the back. The user walks or runs to keep up. Also called the running belt.
Other 5
HandrailsFor holding on while getting on and off, and for balance.
UprightsPosts rising from the base that hold up the console and handrails.
Walking platformThe board the belt slides over, also called the deck. Usually cushioned against impact.
Foot railsFlat rails along each side of the belt. For standing on when starting and stopping.
Rear rollerThe belt runs around it at the back. Its bolts adjust the belt’s tension and centering. A front roller does the same at the front.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. (1) Wikipedia, Treadmill, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadmill : a moving platform whose wide conveyor belt an electric motor drives; the belt moves to the rear and the user walks or runs to keep up; most have a running deck with a belt stretched between two shafts (rollers) before and after it; decks are often mounted on damping elements or cushions; a lifting element raises the frame for incline; handrails; remove the safety key to keep children safe when the treadmill is not in use. (2) ProForm 370p treadmill user’s manual, https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-7397491 : part identification: handrail, storage latch, foot rail, rear roller, console, key/clip, upright, reset/off switch, circuit breaker; walking belt, walking platform, motor hood, front roller; rear roller bolts adjust the belt’s tension and centring. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
These are the parts of a treadmill on a home motorised treadmill seen from the side, with the console at the front. Start with the 4 main parts.
Read the full guide
The moving parts
A motor under the motor hood drives the walking belt toward the back, and the user walks or runs to keep up. The belt slides over the walking platform, or deck, and turns round a roller at each end.
Controls and safety
The console on top of the uprights sets the speed and incline. The safety key clips to your clothes: if you fall back, it pulls out and the belt stops. Foot rails along the sides give a place to stand.
Take the safety key out when the treadmill is not in use, so a child cannot start the belt.
Questions and answers
What is the safety key on a treadmill?
A key on a cord whose clip fastens to your waistband. If you fall back, the key is pulled out of the console and the walking belt slows to a stop. The displays light only once the key is in.
What is the deck of a treadmill?
The walking platform: the board under the belt. The belt slides over it, and many decks sit on cushions to soften each step.
How do you tighten or centre a treadmill belt?
With the rear roller bolts at the back. With the key out and the power cord unplugged, turn them a little at a time until the belt is centred and tight enough.