5 low impact exercises that get results
July, 2022
Putting a lot of strain on your joints on a regular basis can potentially lead to short and long-term issues. Also, if you are recovering from an injury, you might want to look at low-impact exercises.
While plyometric workouts do have many excellent benefits with their quick and explosive exercises, they can be challenging for many people.
In this month’s blog post, I am going to explain how you can workout and get back into shape without putting unnecessary pressure on your joints.
What is a low-impact exercise?
Low impact exercises are workouts that don’t put a ton of strain on your joints and muscle.
In contrast to HIIT, which is a form of very high-impact training charactarised by short and extreme bouts of exercise, low-impact workouts don’t have the same intensity.
Low-impact exercises allow you to start off slow and gradually work your way up the intensity levels if you wish.
5 Low-impact exercises that get results
So, if you think that low-impact exercises would work best for your current level of fitness, any injuries you have, or just your outlook on working out in general, here are 5 that get results.
#1 Swimming
Swimming is one of the best low-impact exercises that allows you to move at your pace while having a beneficial effect on your muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness.
You won’t be putting any strain on your joints in the water and for people who are recovering from an injury or want to take tentative steps to a healthier life, swimming is an ideal exercise.
#2 Rowing Machine
Have you always shied away from the rowing machine at the gym? Well, you shouldn’t if you want to take some pressure off your joints.
This resistance exercise takes the strain off your back and knees and allows you to work on many muscle groups while ensuring a healthy cardiovascular aspect to your workout.
#3 Exercise bike
Similar to the rowing machine, sitting down on an exercise bike at the gym (or even going for a cycle outdoors) is a great low-impact exercise.
You might remember a recent blog post of mine – Cycling v Running – which one is better? – and it will give you a good overview of why cycling doesn’t impact your joints as much while still providing to be a solid workout.
#4 Yoga
We don’t always think of yoga as pure exercise but it has a ton of positives for our physical and mental health.
As far as low-impact exercises go, yoga is right up there and this slow-paced regime can improve your flexibility, boost your joint strength, and help with poor posture too.
#5 Walking
Last up we have a good old walk.
This can put a bit more strain on your joints than the other exercises I have listed (particularly if you walk long distances on hard surfaces), however, you can go at your own pace.
Walking has a lot of advantages for our physical health and it is actually a solid way to lose weight. Also, the mental health benefits of getting out in the fresh air and discovering new routes can’t be understated either.
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