If you are looking to get in better shape, without overexerting yourself, low impact exercise might be perfect for you. Low impact exercise is movements you can do with your body that don’t involve the slamming, jarring, and jumping that occurs with more high impact exercise. Low impact exercise is easy on the joints while still providing cardiovascular benefits.
There are many reasons someone may gravitate toward low impact exercise. For example, someone with a recent injury may want to get moving without risking re-injury. Or for older adults and people with continuous health conditions, low impact exercise may be the wisest choice to stay in shape while keeping your body safe.
What Types of Workouts are Considered Low-Impact?
Many types of exercise can be considered low impact. Some examples of low impact exercises to try are:
- Swimming
- Walking
- Sitting exercises
- Light yoga
- Elliptical machine
- Cycling or cycling machine
- Circuit training
- And more!
These exercises all share one thing: they are minimally impactful on your joints and bones, making them easy to perform for people with healing injuries, weakening joints and bones, or preexisting health conditions which prohibit them from performing high impact exercises.
Benefits of Low Impact Exercise
The benefits of low impact exercise are numerous. Although the name may imply these exercise types have a lesser impact, it’s not true. These types of exercise still provide a set of robust health benefits, while protecting your body.
Some benefits you can enjoy from a low impact exercise regimen are:
- Low impact exercises are easy to learn and start performing.
- Less of a risk of injury to joints or bones.
- Less recovery time needed after a workout.
- Easy to perform after injury to keep muscles strong while you heal.
- Perfect for group settings and a variety of skill levels.
- Improved balance and mobility.
- And more!
Getting Started with a Low Impact Exercise Regimen
As with any other exercise regimen, it’s always wise to consult your doctor before beginning a new routine. This is particularly true if you have a recent injury or ongoing health condition that needs to be considered before exercising.
A light warm-up is highly recommended before beginning your low impact workout. Even though these types of activities are less strenuous, your muscles still need to be warm and loose to avoid injury.
Choose an exercise type that you genuinely enjoy and try to see if any family or friends would like to work out with you, to increase your motivation.
Finally, if any pain or discomfort arises while working out, stop immediately. Resist the urge to push through, this could just worsen underlying injuries or conditions.
Conclusion
Low impact exercise is a great choice for those looking to get active without aggravating their current conditions. Low impact exercise is easy on the joints and bones while still providing great cardiac and muscular benefits.
Sources:
What Are Low Impact Exercises? (fitday.com)
Low-Impact Exercise: Benefits, Types, Tips, and More (verywellhealth.com)
