Joint-Friendly Exercise

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

27 Oct 2008 05:52 PM

I fell in a hole this week while I was walking the dogs. We were at a local park, exploring all sorts of new sights and smells... and I just stepped where I shouldn't have. My ankle turned and I was on my hands and knees in the wet grass and mud before I had a chance to think! At least it was early enough in the day that there was only one other walker out. (My ego survived the fall better than my ankle and knee.)

My little slip up was a good reminder to be kind to my joints. I've had problems with my knees and ankles for most of my life -- between the extra weight I carry and my general clumsiness that makes me prone to things like falling in holes.

I was over at the gym at the apartment complex, scoping out the equipment and entertaining thoughts of getting off the couch once in a while for a workout. I was very pleased to see that the little gym has two elliptical machines and a treadmill -- the elliptical is by far my favorite form of cardio exercise. In fact, I have an elliptical that's currently living with my aunt and uncle in New Jersey, since I didn't have room to bring it cross-country with me.

Ellipticals and stationary bikes are pretty much no-impact exercises when done right, which makes them pretty friendly for your joints. If you want your machine to be even better for your body, look for things like this:

• An elliptical that allows you to adjust the pedals (so your feet don't slip) and even the length of the stride! A stride that's too big can stress your hip and back; a stride that's too short can force you to bounce.
• A recumbent bike can be easier on your back than an upright stationary bike. Hunching over the handles on an upright bike can contribute to back pain.
• A treadmill with incline control. You can get a harder workout at a lower (joint-friendlier) speed by increasing the incline. Some newer treadmills even allow you to adjust the surface that you're walking on. A softer surface can reduce joint impact by as much as a third.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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