Let’s face facts. From the moment we are born, we begin getting older, and time takes its toll on our bodies! That’s a good thing in many aspects, but after a while, getting old sucks.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had knee pain and back problems myself. These health issues made exercising difficult at best.
I’m not a senior yet, but due to my knee and back injuries, I was forced to re-think and re-imagine my home gym. Any high-impact machine or exercise I used to do, like running on the treadmill, became a painful endeavor.
I began to look into other options and I was really shocked to find a recumbent elliptical that didn’t cause my back to hurt but actually made me sweat!
I’ve done a great deal of research into this area, and I want to share the information that I discovered.
Should seniors use elliptical machines or is there something better?
Give me a few minutes of your time and you will come away with not only a whole new attitude towards exercise, but you will know which machine will work best for you.
Are you ready? Let’s talk about elliptical machines for seniors, and why they are the bomb!
- You Might Also Like to Read: Best Cardio Machine for Bad Knees
What Is the Best Exercise Machine for Seniors?
If you’ve used gym equipment in the past, then you’re one step ahead of the game.
Did you find treadmills, stair climbers, and even low-impact aerobics classes painful? If you feel left out of the exercise circuit loop, you aren’t alone. Many older people have special needs and most exercise equipment aren’t ideal for seniors.
Elliptical machines are not only good for seniors, they are the best! An elliptical machine is perfect because it is low-impact and are often completely adjustable so you can customize them to suit your body.
If the circular motion of an exercise bike hurts your knees, ellipticals are what the doctor ordered. Many of them use a linear motion, which is similar to walking and feels more natural.
Ellipticals are also full-body workouts, so you only need to do a single exercise routine to get all the cardiovascular benefits and muscle engagement you need.
The Benefits of Elliptical Machines for Seniors
Elliptical machines are a terrific choice for nearly all seniors and even non-seniors who have health issues or injuries.
Some of the best reasons why you should consider an elliptical machine are:
- Elliptical machines improve your balance. Most seniors lose this skill with age, leading to dangerous falls and broken hips. An elliptical will help improve balance, and you will probably notice the results within a couple of weeks!
- Elliptical machines can help control your body weight. Our metabolism slows as we age, but our love for eating doesn’t! By using an elliptical machine (you might also like to read my list of top elliptical machines fo ryour home gym ), you can avoid unwanted pounds or drop excess pounds you may have picked up recently.
- Ellipticals for seniors will strengthen important key muscles, such as the lower back, core muscles (which support the spine), as well as the quads (which make going upstairs easier), and the arms for… well, everything!
- An elliptical machine is adjustable so you can make it comfortable for you. The best ellipticals for seniors will allow you to adjust the handles, the seat (if it has one), even the stride length. If you find that going backward is easier, you can do that as well!
- Elliptical machines are low impact. You can even find seated or recumbent ellipticals if you prefer those. Some, such as the Teeter FreeStep, are zero-impact, which means no stress is placed on your joints!
- An elliptical machine is easy to use. It’s not much different from walking! Move your arms using the handles and walk. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
- An elliptical machine is fun. Watch TV or walk to the beat of your favorite music. Rain or shine, snow or hot, you can use an elliptical machine anytime you wish!
The best ellipticals for seniors will have several resistance levels so you will always feel challenged. The Teeter FreeStep is the best elliptical machine for seniors, and it’s the one I used when I injured my back.
There are so many reasons for using an elliptical trainer, it’s hard to imagine NOT having one!
- You Might Like to Read: What Parts of the Body Does the Elliptical Work?
Which Is Better for Older People a Treadmill or an Elliptical?
Hands down, the answer here is an elliptical machine.
Why? Unless you’ve been running/walking on a treadmill and you still use one, the fact is that treadmills are pretty hard on the joints.
Also, treadmills don’t give you a full-body workout. The best elliptical for seniors uses both the upper and lower body so you can do a wide range of workout programs.
The best elliptical machines allow you to use each part of the machine separately if you wish. For example, if you’ve injured your ankle and you need to stay off of it for a few weeks, you can still exercise your arms by using only the handlebars.
Your overall health and fitness matter! Life is not enjoyable if your health stops you from doing the things you love. A regular exercise program on an elliptical trainer will go a long way towards improving your overall health and quality of life.
Is an Elliptical Machine Better Than Walking?
Yes, it is.
While you can use walking poles and simulate an elliptical for seniors, hard ground surfaces and the impact on your joints can cause many seniors pain.
The best elliptical for seniors will also have padded foot pedals to soften your stride. You can also use the LCD display that is on most ellipticals to track your time, pace, distance, and the number of calories burned.
Some ellipticals have resistance levels and inclines, which help to challenge you, and that’s something you can’t get from walking.
Let’s not forget that some ellipticals have seats so you can walk while sitting down. Try that on a treadmill or walking outside!
My last point is that walking is not always possible. Snow, ice, wind, and rain can all make walking outside downright dangerous!
You can use the elliptical machine and its workout programs any time of the day or night, weather be damned!
What Ages Can Use Ellipticals?
If you can walk, you can use an elliptical!
I was in my 30s when I injured my back. A recumbent elliptical, the Teeter FreeStep, helped me stay in shape until I was well enough to return to my usual cardio and other activities.
Anyone at any age can use an elliptical machine.
In fact, I’ve seen young women, probably in their 20s, using an under-the-desk elliptical at work! There is no age limit at all to an elliptical!
What Is the Best Ellipticals for Seniors?
Let me be 100% honest with you here.
The best elliptical machine for seniors is the one you will use.
No elliptical cross trainer or even under the desk elliptical will do you any good if you don’t use it. You can make excuses or you can take care of your body and improve your life!
I recommend using an elliptical at least 5 days per week, for about 30 minutes at a time. If you can’t do that, don’t worry. Do 15 minutes a day or 30 minutes a day but only 3 days a week. If you can manage it, HIIT workouts are an excellent way to get in your exercise and you only need 3 sessions per week.
Over time, you will find that your body is stronger, your cardiovascular health has improved, and you will be able to work out longer and/or more often than you ever thought possible.
No matter how slowly you need to begin with, progress, even if it’s slow, is still progress!
Everyone has different needs, so it’s difficult to pick one that will suit every individual, but the best elliptical machines will have multiple adjustments so you can use it comfortably, it should have some type of resistance (many people like magnetic resistance because it is so quiet), and it should be affordable for you.
If space is a problem, you should find a compact elliptical that is space-saving. Don’t forget to check the weight limit if you are a large person or if you have a lot of weight to lose.
You might find this guide helpful when choosing an elliptical.
At the End of the Day
Ellipticals are the machine of choice for most seniors. Whether you have bad knees, arthritis, or a bad back, you are sure to find an elliptical that will suit your needs.
I want to mention that I am not a doctor or a physical therapist. You should always speak with a health care professional before you start any exercise program, even one as safe as an elliptical. This is especially important if you have heart problems or other health conditions.
Elliptical machines will work both the upper and lower body. The stride length is similar to walking, and a machine with multiple resistance levels will help keep your body challenged and allow you to build strength.
Getting older is mandatory, but getting exercise is optional. Do some low-impact workouts on an elliptical machine and see if you don’t feel better for it!
Go a little crazy, get in some cardio, and nothing will be able to stop you!
