Best Exercise Equipment for Seniors: 11 Tools to Stay Active

Why is exercise equipment for seniors a necessity now? With more and more people understanding the health benefits of strength training, the necessity of maintaining fitness levels is felt like never before.

It is becoming clear to more and more elderly people that improving their quality of life and having a fixed exercise routine are the best possible alternatives to sick golden years.

Cable strength machines, low-impact treadmills, elliptical trainers, and exercise bikes are among the best exercise equipment for older adults, with many features. The machines have an LCD with digital monitors, a heart rate monitor, an exercise guide, video workout programs, safety features, and various additional benefits to guide you regarding a wide range of workouts.

The treadmill is the best single piece of home exercise equipment for seniors. Due to their simple operations and some specially made for seniors, they are safe too.

These are effective but expensive and space-consuming. If you are worried about the prices, we suggest inexpensive equipment equally effective, less space-consuming, and easily transportable—free weights, kettlebells, resistance training bands, yoga mats, etc.

Here we share the best exercise machines for seniors at tentative prices. However, you can know the exact prices at Amazon by clicking on the links below.

1. Cable Strength Machines – $1499.00
2. Elliptical Machine – $ 1099.00
3. Treadmill – $ 1149.00
4. Stationary Bike – $ 499.00
5. Adjustable Dumbbells – $ 239.00
6. Kettlebells – $ 179.00
7. Stability Ball – $ 48.98
8. Yoga Mat – $ 24.98
9. Wrist Weights – $ 14.98
10. Resistance Bands – $ 19.98
11. Running/Walking Shoes – $ 160.00

Best Home Exercise Machines for Seniors

Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home Gym Cable Strength Machine

It is one of the best fitness equipment for seniors that very few seniors will like to keep at home. Most of us have lost enthusiasm by this time for developing a muscular body. But there are still some, like me, who are starting now. So, this particular machine is for those few.

These machines only do the job of weight lifting, but normally in the opposite fashion to picking up free weights. For example, you pull up the bar or dumbbells against gravity in Arm Curles. But in the case of Cable Strength Machines, you pull down the weights hanging from a cable and a pully and then release them upwards slowly. That is the basic function of these, though there are other more sophisticated commercial machines too.

You can use your muscles in various directions, still against the gravitational pull, and achieve two or even three times more than what you do with free weights. It would be best to have a big place for placing and using these.

Nautilus E616 Elliptical Machine

These also occupy much space, though not as much as cable-strength machines. But these are super useful cardio workouts with adjustable resistance. You can do a full-body, low-impact exercise on this, and your joints will also be safe as there is no jumping. So the joints are strengthened with an elliptical trainer.

These give you complete workouts and muscle tone, increasing your fitness level at whatever age you are. You can boost your stamina and cardio capacity while burning calories with little stress on your joints.

Nautilus T616 Treadmill

Treadmills are the most used-at-home machines for cardio. Running burns maximum calories, so using a treadmill is very effective. There are many walking, jogging, and running-related workouts that you can do on a treadmill. Some companies give you complete details of the various types of exercise you can do on a treadmill.

You can also watch your favourite program or movie while doing your workout. Most people who initiate a weight loss program like buying a treadmill.

There are treadmills made for exercise for seniors with long rails, bigger numerical figures for reading and only for walking and jogging.

Nautilus U616 Upright Stationary Bike

Another best exercise machine for seniors for aerobic workouts in the safety of their homes is an exercise bike. It provides the same benefits as cycling outside while providing a very low-impact workout. Its key features are an adjustable seat, pedals, and handles. For comfort, you can have a padded seat as well.

A small piece of equipment compared to a treadmill or an elliptical machine. Due to the varying resistance levels, you can work out at different intensities.

Affordable Options

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

It is essential resistance training equipment for anyone who has to do strength building. Seniors can also do various chair exercises with these. Seniors can get a lot out of starting out with light dumbbells. They can increase their weight and build on their strength as they get stronger. With adjustable dumbbells, you can do a whole lot of different workouts. All or most muscle groups can be involved in using these.

Dumbbells are also available in a huge variety, from cast iron to rubber to silicon-covered dumbbells.
These are easier to carry and use as compared to barbells. For this reason, I don’t suggest barbells to anyone.

Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell

Another best exercise equipment for over 60 is kettlebells. Nowadays, you can get adjustable kettlebells. You can do many exercises with kettlebells, which are quite different from regular weight-training exercises.

But one needs to be careful about using kettlebells initially. You can hurt yourself by swinging these or pulling a muscle too. But after the initial week or ten days, you get used to them, and then they are really fun to use.

SPRI Stability Ball

The stability ball, or exercise ball, is also age-appropriate exercise equipment that is very useful for helping with balance and can also help strengthen core muscles. They can also help improve balance and core strength while sitting in front of the TV or a computer.

You can do several exercises on a stability ball, both upper body and lower body. It is a major cost, storage, and transport benefit.

Gaiam Premium Citron Sundial Yoga Mat

A yoga mat is the most basic and common exercise equipment. Starting with meditation and yoga, one can do several exercises on it. But when buying a yoga mat, be careful to buy one at least 6mm thick but not more than 12mm.

Any less and it won’t be comfortable, and any more will reduce the effect of many exercises and will be difficult to balance. Be careful of the material also. Some materials become slippery with sweat.

SPRI Wrist & Ankle Weight Set

Wrist waits, or ankle weights can also be a part of the best home exercise equipment for those over the 60s and are very useful if you can not pick up dumbbells or a kettlebell, especially if you go to the park for daily exercise. These start at 500gm and go up to 5kg.

They are especially good for endurance workouts. They are easy to work with as you do not have to carry them in your hands.

SPRI Tube & Band Kit

Resistance bands are a quick and easy way to increase muscle strength. These take up minimum space. They will assist you with combining strength and cardio training. They are good at improving your posture and stability.

Resistance loop bands come in five different degrees of resistance, allowing you to tailor your workout to your needs. There are also various loop bands; you can even purchase just one band at a time.

Asics Weight 221 gm Running/Walking Shoes

A good walking shoe should be light and absorb shock well. You can avoid sores and bruises by wearing comfortable walking shoes that fit the feet. Find a shoe that is both stylish and comfortable for you. Comfortable shoes do not have to be expensive. If bending down and tying the laces is difficult, you can purchase Velcro shoes. Velcro shoes are now manufactured by almost every shoe company.

Regular exercise with these pieces of exercise equipment can be very motivating too. A complete full-body workout can be designed around these, comprising four kinds of exercise, i.e. strength, balance, flexibility, and cardio.

Strength Training

Of all the exercise options, strength training is the first thing that people stop doing as they grow older. With age, fitness goals take a back seat. Pieces of equipment are considered less important compared to insulin doses.

But now things are changing, though slowly. The older generation has also started buying equipment like exercise balls, recumbent bikes, and weight stacks to increase the various exercises they can do at home.

Strength training can help prevent many chronic illnesses like osteoporosis, heart disease, asthma, and type 2 diabetes, improve sleep, and relieve depression.

We can do different exercises to get stronger with weight lifting, resistance bands, and dumbbells. If a workout for seniors includes these exercises and cardio workouts like aerobic exercise, it increases their fitness levels.

It is more advantageous to do strength training as we grow older. The muscle mass we start losing with age should be stopped or slowed down. Strength training halts and can increase our muscle mass and keep us in shape at any age if done regularly.

Maintaining Weight

Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Your mobility is reduced, as does your independence. More pressure on the limbs also creates problems for the knees. It also results in lung disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and skin problems. Strength and cardio exercise, along with an improvement in diet, can be very beneficial in reducing weight and the danger of all these ailments. Regular strength exercises keep all these health issues at bay.

Metabolism

Strength training increases resting metabolic rate and norepinephrine levels in healthy 50- to 65-yr-old men.

With age, there is a regular loss of metabolism. Strength exercises help keep the metabolism high and old age does not let it go down. You can maintain blood glucose and insulin levels with regular strength exercises.

Another interesting fact is that muscles burn three times more calories than fat. One pound of muscle burns about 6 to 7 calories a day, about three times those burned by a pound of fat.

Mental Health

Weightlifting can decrease instances of mental depression and anxiety. Low-intensity weight lifting is very beneficial for mild depression. It also raises your self-esteem, helps maintain memory, and stops any decline in attention and decision-making capabilities.

Compared to medicines and doctor’s fees, this is a much more inexpensive way to improve mental health and has no side effects. You can, however, invest in some simple senior exercise equipment, for that matter.

Best Exercise Equipment for Seniors to stay fit at Home

When you are over 40, your body requires much more care and attention than it did when you were younger. Your heart (if you have one) has to work harder to pump blood around your body, and your bones need to carry your body around.

All of this takes a toll on your joints and muscles. If you don’t do something to counter this, you will begin to notice that you are getting out of breath more easily and that your knees, hips, ankles, and elbows are taking a pounding.

Regular exercise is the only option for seniors to stay in tip-top shape and carry themselves independently and with dignity. There are various kinds of exercises, but the importance of strength training can not be overstated.

Seniors can use various types of equipment for strength training exercises at home. The range of exercises increases manifold using equipment due to various resistance levels. Regular use of such equipment ensures consistency in routine. It also ensures added interest in workouts.

FAQs

Is a treadmill or a bike better for the elderly?

It’s better to work out on a treadmill. It burns more calories than a stationary bike. It exercises the entire body, while the stationary bike focuses on the legs. But the risk of injury is higher, so it should be used cautiously. You can sit on a bike and ride, which isn’t possible on a treadmill.

Can a stationary bike help you reduce tummy fat?

You can burn lots of calories riding a stationary bike. But to lose belly fat, you also have to ensure that you are in a calorie deficit on a day-to-day basis. Besides, spot reduction is a myth. So you will lose belly fat only when overall fat is reduced.

How long should an elderly person ride a stationary bike?

Twenty-five minutes of riding six days a week are good enough. What is more important is to stay active throughout the day rather than adopt a sedentary lifestyle after those twenty-five minutes.