A treadmill including a frame, an endless belt having an upwardly-exposed exercise section, a deck disposed underneath the exercise section of the belt, and a cushion assembly positioned between the deck and the frame for providing cushion in order to reduce high impact loads on the user's body. The cushion assembly comprises a lever having a first portion that is operably coupled to the deck and a second portion that is rotatably coupled to the frame. The cushion assembly also comprises a resilient member coupled to both the lever and the frame so that the resilient member resists rotation of the lever as the lever is rotated. The elastic deformation of the resilient member provides resistance to displacement of the deck and therefore creates a cushion effect on the user's feet, ankles and knees as the user's feet contact the belt.