Low-Impact Exercise: A Joint-Friendly Exercise Approach
Everyone can benefit from exercise, but not all types of exercise are beneficial to everyone. Some forms of exercise can be hard on the body, especially for beginners and individuals with sensitive joints or injuries. But getting your physical activity in, especially for people with conditions like osteoporosis, is crucial for joint and bone health. Low-impact exercise is a great way to move without pain or risk of injury.
Low impact means the exercise does not place a lot of strain or weight through the joints. “Low-impact exercise does not put additional pressure on muscles and joints” explained Megan Causey, Physical Therapist with CMC Rehabilitation Services, “It has benefits like improving heart health and strength while having a lower risk of musculoskeletal injury than higher impact exercise”.
Examples of Low-Impact Exercise
Low-impact movement generally eliminates some of those higher-intensity exercises like running, jumping, climbing stairs, and sprints. But that doesn’t mean low-impact movements can’t get your heart rate up. Swimming is a great example of a low-impact exercise that challenges your heart rate and lung capacity. And there are plenty of ways to also build strength with minimal impact. In-fact a lot of strength training movements are considered low-impact.
Low-impact exercises can include:
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- Swimming
- Weightlifting
- Pilates
- Barre
- Yoga
- Cycling
- Elliptical training
- Water Aerobics
- Tai chi
- Try out these 8 moves you can do anywhere!
Who benefits the most:
- Pregnant people
- Athletes dealing with injuries
- Seniors
- People with arthritis
- People with osteoporosis
- Beginners
Low-impact exercise is often a more approachable form of exercise. The benefits of low impact exercise is the same as high and moderate intensity exercise, including stronger bones, improved heart health, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and aids in managing weight. At the same time, putting less strain on the joints, muscles and connective tissues makes low-impact exercise less likely to lead to injuries.
Care When and Where You Need It
CMC provides excellent physical therapy and rehabilitation services that are designed to help you get back to your day-to-day activities after a physical injury, disease, joint replacement, and other strength impairments.
We have state-of-the-art facilities located in multiple areas of Horry County to make your road to recovery as convenient as possible. Complete with the most modern equipment available in the area, and staffed with certified therapists, our facilities afford patients the best opportunity to achieve their desired goals and recover to a higher degree of functioning.
Contact Rehabilitation Services at 843-347-8066.
