Low Impact Cardio That Make You Good as You Age
It is no secret that working out is beneficial for you. But, as you get older, working out can begin to take a toll on your body. When this happens, it is wise to reduce or limit some of the workouts that begin to wear your joints. Incidentally, low impact aerobics, or low impact cardio for seniors is very beneficial and can provide the same great results that high-impact cardio provides. However, many people feel limited in their options for cardiovascular or cardio workouts.
Now, some of the most common cardio options are jogging, and running. However, the problem with these activities is that they are high-impact and can have short term or long term impact on your joints. In particular, your hips, knees and ankles, are susceptible to damage from years of high-impact workouts. For example, when you are young you have all the cartilage in the world in your body. But, as you wear the cartilage down over the years the pain can deter you from participating in these cardio workout.
The good news is that a range of low impact cardio for seniors workouts are still available that, in many cases, burn calories and raise your heart rate. Some of these low impact cardio or aerobic workouts that you can do and still get the same great results, are described below.
Fast Walking
First and foremost, fast walking, is probably the most prevalent workout when it comes to low impact cardio for seniors. The only requirement is to walk as fast as you can with the goal of elevating your heart rate and gently work your muscles. By the way, fast walking is gentle on your spine.
Now, fast walking doesn't require any special skills. In fact, walking is ingrained in human beings from nearly the time they were born. And, except for the shoes, fast walking doesn't require any special equipment or facilities. In addition, this workout can be done at anytime of the day or even night. Furthermore, fast walking doesn't require you to go to any special facilities like the gym. In fact, fast walking can be done around your home. Now, that's not always true. For example, if you stay in a neighborhood where walking options are limited, such as being next to highways, you may have to go to a gym. On the other hand, you could purchase a treadmill and use it to fast walk inside your home while you entertain yourself watching TV.
Swimming
Second, swimming, is another low impact aerobics for seniors. In fact, swimming has almost no hard impact on your joints. Instead, swimming uses many of your muscles in a veritable symphony of cardiovascular exertion! Now, if you don't know how to swim efficiently, it's never too late to take a few lessons to learn how.
So go to a facility where you can swim for 20 minutes or more at a time. What I like about swimming is that it is not only a great exercise, but it can literally save your life. People that don't know how to swim, limit their outside activity when it comes to water sports. And this makes complete sense. Learning to swim will enhance your everyday life. In addition, it will be another tool when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The biggest drawback to swimming is the need to find a convenient indoor place where you can swim laps without interference from others using the pool.
Exercise Bike
Third, an exercise bike is also a good choice since it involves smooth movement of your legs. You can choose to ride an actual bike or to use an exercise bike in a gym or at home. You will not get much of an upper-body workout with the exercise bike, but your lower body and cardio will improve greatly. If you use an indoor spin bike there are plenty of spinning bikes with preprogrammed rides, suitable for all levels. And, as your cardio strengthens, you can increase the resistance, go for longer rides, or increase the intensity. All of which is easy on your body.
Exercise bikes are either upright or recumbent. Upright bikes require leaning forward to reach the handlebars. While a recumbent bike has back support that can be adjusted to a reclined position.
Elliptical Machines
Fourth, if you want to incorporate a bit of upper-body cardio with your lower body cardio, an elliptical machine is a great alternative. The smooth leg motion of the elliptical combined with the upper body handles will get your heart going. By the way, these machines simulate the movements of jogging, running, and walking up stairs to provide a low-impact cardio workout. Most machines use pedals or footholds suspended above the ground that glide up and down, so the feet never hit a hard surface during the workout. Additionally, many machines have resistance settings that can help strengthen muscles.
Incidentally, there are several types of elliptical machines. Some of these include the elliptical stepper, recumbent cross trainers, compact ellipticals, and long stride ellipticals.
Rowing
Fifth, a rowing machine is also an excellent choice for a low impact cardio that impacts the entire body. In fact, a rowing machine works almost every muscle group, including the legs, arms, back, and core, while building endurance in the heart and lungs. Most of all you use it while sitting. Also, it is easy on the joints.
Yoga Cardio
Lastly, yoga cardio also provides a great low impact cardio workout. Moreover, this workout also helps reduce stress and improves strength.
Conclusion
By being smart and choosing low impact aerobics for seniors now, you can retain your future ability to do cardiovascular exercise. Indeed, these low impact aerobics workouts protect you from short term injury and long term damage to your joints associated with high impact workouts. So, in conclusion, don't let age or body aches get the best of you. By incorporating one of these low-impact workouts, you will be able to continue your physical exercise routine and live a healthier life.