Our Editors independently research, test, and rate what we feel are the best products. We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.
When we start getting up there in age, it can be more difficult to stay in shape. That’s usually due to a lifestyle that’s more sedentary or laidback, along with our bodies changing.
However, it’s more than feasible to stay in shape with the right exercise equipment handy for at-home use. We’ve decided to write up a guide that details all the best exercise equipment for the elderly, to keep you looking and feeling your best for many years to come!
Mini Steppers
Mini steppers are a wonderful piece of workout equipment that anyone can keep in their home or office. They take up practically no room at all, and are lightweight enough to easily move around the house or stow away in a corner or in a closet when not in use.
These steppers will help keep your mobility up and have even been proven to help with coordination, increasing leg strength, and even reducing body fat! If you’re looking to make some positive lifestyle changes, we highly recommend getting yourself a mini stepper as they’re so effective yet very budget friendly!
Most will come with a display right in between the two pedals for you to track your progress, calories burned, time, and so on. Alternatively, some let you connect to a smart device to be used with fitness tracking apps.
Recumbent Bikes
Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise in the world, though not everyone has the balance or the available space to partake in it. People who suffer from neck and back pain will usually try to avoid spin bikes, but recumbent bikes are the perfect alternative.
Recumbents have you seated slightly at an incline so you are rested comfortably on a nicely sized, cushy seat that will feel comfortable even after extended periods of time. Meanwhile, you will be able to increase the resistance of the pedals to your liking so you can avoid plateauing. These bikes are great for not only strengthening the upper body but the hip flexors and core as well so it’s an excellent form of cardio exercise.
There are various models out there which are made specially with seniors in mind as well, so do check those out!
Rowing Machines
Rowing machines are a wonderful, low-impact form of cardio exercise that has also been proven to strengthen the upper body. If you have a knee or hip injury as is common when our cartilage begins to disintegrate in our joints, then you may feel like you are limited in your cardio options. We’re happy to announce that rowing is an excellent alternative that you can do while seated.
However, we do recommend only partaking in rowing if you are able to keep yourself balanced as they do not typically come with seat backs. In any case, they are not only great for strengthening the back and arms, but also for toning the core and improving balance.
Our shoulders are particularly prone to injury and using a rowing machine will keep them nice and limber, reducing that risk.
Elliptical Machines
Elliptical machines are some of the best forms of cardio and strength-building in the world. These machines are perfect for seniors due to the fact that it’s a very low-impact form of cardio. It’s much easier on the knees than walking or jogging on the sidewalk, for example.
Now, if you want a full-body workout without taking up much room in your home or moving from machine to machine then it’s hard to find a better option than ellipticals. Their smooth motion makes them easy to get a good rhythm going and won’t feel clunky or too difficult.
As you’re able to adjust resistance and incline with precision, you have full control over your workout. From steady-state cardio to intervals and HIIT, it’s very versatile and will make sure you’re always challenged but never find it too dangerous or difficult.
Speaking of dangerous, elliptical machines are one of the safer cardio machines out there. When you stop, it stops. Senior elliptical machines feature pedals that are also closer to the ground to minimize the risk of falling or tripping.
As it also includes handlebars, you’ll be able to get your upper body moving, strengthening your chest, back, and arms while increasing mobility. The twisting motion does wonders for the core, balance, and spine to boot.
Treadmills
There’s a common misconception that seniors can’t use treadmills as they’re too dangerous or rough on the joints. While that may be the case with some models, all you need to do is pay attention to senior treadmills specifically designed with these concerns in mind.
What’s so special about senior treadmills?
Well, first off, they are lower to the ground so you’ll find them easier to step up onto and off of when you’re done. They come with cushier, thicker mats so that they’re not as hard on your knees and other joints, so you can use them for longer periods of time. On top of that, the handrails are placed higher and are easier to grasp for you to use them as support for balance.
The displays are made to be easier to see, with bigger, more clear displays so you can track your time, calories burned, speed, and incline. When it comes to having control over your workouts, ellipticals come close but nothing beats the treadmill.
Resistance Bands
No matter what age you are or your activity level, it’s not only important to focus on our cardio workouts but resistance as well. No, we’re not just talking about the resistance level on our treadmills. Resistance workouts involve things like weights, strength training machines, and resistance bands.
Resistance bands are wonderful because they take up practically no space at all in the home, are very portable, and easy to use. They are great if you are trying to build up your muscle tone in a safe way, and don’t have a lot of strength yet.
Moreover, they’re some physical therapists’ secret weapon to helping their patients recover more quickly while rehabbing. They come in a wide array of different “weights” and you can do a ton of different exercises with them that works out the whole body. The best models will even come with handy exercise videos to lead you through workouts.
Exercise Mat
This may not be as fun or entertaining as the machines we’ve covered on our guide today, but they are essential. You must stretch and warm up before you get into your actual workout. Stretching will help minimize the risk of injury. You’ll experienced improved mobility, your muscles will feel more limber, and you are less likely to pull or strain a muscle.
Many people like to stretch on their carpets, but to be honest, this is an easy way for bacteria to grow. Not only is it not sanitary, but it will quickly create foul odors that we’re sure you don’t want to deal with. Exercise mats are made to stay put so you can perform all your stretches on them. They’re long and wide enough to fit your body easily, even if you’re stretched out.
Not only that, but they’re nice and thick, offering cushion between you and the floor for a much more enjoyable feeling. We all know that after a while the carpet sinks into the hard surface below and things can get uncomfortable quickly.
When you’re done, you can wipe it off and roll it up!
Summary
Now that you know all about the best exercise equipment for the elderly, do you know which pieces of gear you’re going to be using in the future? We hope that our guide was able to give you some new ideas. There are a ton of options to choose from, but no matter which you select know that you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle. Thanks for tuning in and we’ll see you again soon!
Notice:
BestWomensWorkouts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. BestWomensWorkouts earns fees from products sold through qualifying purchases by linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a commission on products sold through their affiliate links.
