Best Exercise Equipment for Over 55s

Low impact cardio and strength exercises can help those who are unable to exercise for a variety of reasons. Whether you are recovering from an illness or injury or have issues with exercise due to your age, there are still a variety of low impact exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine, to stay fit and healthy.

Research shows daily low impact cardio and strength training can greatly improve bone density and help prevent injury. Staying active is also essential to promote a healthy immune system and in turn a healthy body, both inside and out.

Low impact exercise basically means you are not doing any movements that require both of your feet to leave the floor - so there is no “impact” caused by landing on the floor. Improve circulation, promote a healthy immune system and move your body!

Exercise for the Elderly

Staying active is important for people of all ages, but particularly for those of us with a few extra miles on the clock. Physical exercise is important for both physical and mental wellbeing. Low impact exercises are recommended for aging adults as it lowers your risk of injury and is easy on your joints.

In conjunction with your Doctor’s advice, it is recommended you include some low impact exercise into your daily routine. Just some of the health benefits include:

• Lower Blood Pressure
• Improved Muscle Strength
• Healthy Immune System
• Keeping Your Mind Sharp

Exercise is also a great way to stay socially active. There are a variety of group exercise activities in Perth for over 55s that can be done socially as a group, to keep you active in the community.

Prefer to workout at home? There are also several low impact exercises which can be done from the comfort of your home, saving you a gym membership and all the transport hassles.

Top Low Impact Exercises for Older Athletes:

• Cycling
• Swimming
• Water Aerobics
• Yoga
• Tai Chi

Studies consistently show strength training as one of the most important things you can do to reduce muscle loss due to ageing. For more information, see Weight Training for Seniors - Workout, Benefits & More.

Rehab & Injury Recovery

Low impact cardio and strength exercises are also an effective part of your rehabilitation from injury. If you are training for an event, there is nothing more frustrating than being sidelined by injury. But this doesn’t mean you have to lose all your hard work and conditioning. Low impact exercise is a great way to keep you fit and help you on the road to recovery.

Low impact rehab exercise can be used to help restore proper function to a specific area of the body. It will help you rebuild strength, improve your flexibility and increasing range of motion. These can be a highly effective part of any rehabilitation program.

Top Low Impact Exercises for Rehabilitation:

• Stair Walking
• Exercise Bike
• Pool Running
• Pilates
• Yoga

Best Equipment for Low Impact Cardio & Strength Exercises

So, what exercises can you do, that are low impact? The best way to exercise safely is to use quality low impact exercise equipment, such as a Recumbent Bike, Reformer, Rowing Machine or Rebounder. We have put together some of our favourite low impact exercise machines below, to help you get started:

Cardio Machines; for circulation, immune system and heart health

Rebounder Bungee Cord Trampoline

Rebounding is a low impact cardio alternative to running, with less impact on your bones and joints. The rebounding method helps if you have issues with your ankles, knees or hips. The Rebounder has a soft mat so you get all the benefits of running, without the impact. The elasticated bungee cord acts as a suspension spring and further reduces impact.

Orbit’s Top Pick: The Orbit OBT5540ST Rebounder allows you to get a high-intensity cardio workout while protecting your bones, joints, tendons and muscles with a soft landing. Great for working on your balance and stability with an adjustable handle.

Rowing Machine

Rowing Machines are arguably one of the most effective machines for low impact cardio. The action of the rower allows you to limit the resistance and control your movements, without putting strain on your hips, back or shoulders.

Orbit’s Top Pick: The 3 in 1 Hybrid Mag Trainer which is a Rower, Recumbent bike AND Pilates Machine! Covers your cardio and strength, is great value for money and has a specially designed ergonomic seat that gives you full back support.

Recumbent Bike

Recumbent exercise bikes are one of the best pieces of exercise equipment for low-impact cardio. With a Recumbent Bike, you can sit in a natural position and there is cushioning and support, which you won’t get with a traditional upright bike. This is easier on the joints and better support for your back.

Orbit’s Top Pick: The Schwinn 570R Recumbent Bike is a great option for low impact cardio, as it has a specially designed seat that allows the user to put minimal pressure on problem areas like knees and ankles. For low impact exercise in the comfort of your home (even do it while your watching TV!) the Recumbent Bike is a smart choice.

Strength Machines; for bone density, injury prevention, strength and toning

Multi Station Home Gym

A home gym gives you the combination of more than 8 machines so you can strengthen your chest, back and arms, as well as legs and abdominals. The pin-loaded weight stack allows you to change the weight for different muscles without needing to buy a huge range of dumbbells, and no need to worry about accidentally dropping your weights.

Orbit’s Top Pick: The Orbit OHG3067 Home Gym is a great place to start. This machine is versatile, affordable and is available for rent or hire!

Reformer Pilates Machine

Pilates reformers allow you to get a total body workout, while being super low impact. These machines allow you to increase body strength, improve your joint stability and flexibility. Reformer Pilates is a low-impact way to exercise that won’t put unnecessary wear and tear on your joints. This makes it a great option for rehabilitation following an injury, as well as a great workout for overall fitness.

Orbit’s Top Pick: The Foldable Home Plates Reformer is a great option for low impact Pilates exercise, in the comfort of your home. This reformer features a full-size comfortable bed, three-position headrest and adjustable foot bar. For those who are space poor, this machine is a great option, as it folds up and rolls away for easy storage.

Speak to an Expert at Orbit Fitness About Our Low Impact Exercise Equipment

Orbit Fitness are experts when it comes to gym equipment for people of all ages and abilities. Our team will help you find the right home exercise equipment, so you can reach your health and fitness goals. Give us a call, Get in touch online or visit one of our 7 Super Stores across WA to get started today.