Treadmills
Treadmills are a popular weight-bearing activity where people of all levels can enjoy walking, jogging, and running. Treadmills feature adjustable speeds and inclines to vary your workout and challenge your body.
- Ability to expend more calories performing a weight-bearing activity.
- Weight-bearing exercises maintain bone mass and prevent osteoporosis.
- Build stamina, strengthen muscles, and burn calories.
- Walking is a safe and lower-impact form of weight-bearing exercise for adults with osteoporosis or arthritis.
Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers are a low-impact weight-bearing activity that delivers a superior cardio workout without added stress on joints and muscles. You have the option of moving the hand grips and adjusting the resistance to target more muscles leaving you with a full-body cardiovascular workout.
- Simple to use and delivers a workout that promotes cardiovascular health, strength training, and weight loss.
- Feet remain supported on the foot pedals resulting in strengthening leg muscles without exerting pressure on the joints and back.
- Interval programs will boost metabolism and options to increase the resistance will burn more calories.
- People who are elderly, any body size, or rehabbing from knee surgery can benefit from this safer option.
Rowing Machines
Rowing machines are a great alternative to the treadmill or elliptical. Rowing is a low impact, total-body workout that is suitable for people of all fitness levels.
- Rowing allows you to burn calories without putting added stress on your joints. You can control the movement and pace.
- Rowing strengthens your cardiovascular and muscular system, builds power, and endurance.
- It is an efficient way to get a full-body workout by targeting the major muscle groups in a short period of time. Short bursts of high intensity interval training (HIIT) are known to increase cardiac function and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption meaning you’ll burn more calories after your completed workout.
- This form of exercise has also been deemed safe for people with low vision and those who are blind. It is also an option for people with early stages of osteoarthritis.
Recumbent Bikes
Recumbent bikes are a popular non-weight bearing exercise. This style of bike provides back support with a comfortable wide seat. Feet are positioned in front of your body at the same level as your hips. This reduces stress on your lower back, neck and shoulders.
- The recumbent bike is a great option for people of all sizes and fitness levels.
- Safer option for those with difficulty with balance or back problems since the body weight is supported and often recommended during rehabilitation programs.
- Less trauma to the muscles and joints, heart rate is generally lower which makes longer exercise bouts possible.
- Resistance can be increased to challenge your body, increase your heart rate, and build leg strength.
- The design of the machine is the easiest to get on and off.
Spin Bikes
Spin bikes offer a great low impact cardiovascular workout without putting too much stress on the joints. It’s a form of exercise that works for all different levels.
- Cycling is a great option for a total-body workout targeting all the major muscle groups with proper form.
- Indoor cycling can improve your joint function (especially the knees) since it is a continuous motion providing constant full-range movements of your legs which produces synovial fluids lubricating the joints.
- Cycling places very little stress on the joints making it an exercise that works well for arthritis, particularly knee osteoarthritis.
Please consult a physician before starting any exercise program.