The Best Exercise Equipment For Seniors

Daily exercise benefits you at any age. There's no reason to slow down after age 50, and many health reasons to exercise more. Age needn't limit your choice of exercise, but some conditions exacerbated by aging -- joint problems, for instance -- may influence your choice of workout. You can outfit a home gym with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, or spend less than $100 and still gain the benefits of exercise.

Exercise Needs

To stay healthy, older adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity no fewer than five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity at least three days a week, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Weight resistance and stretching exercises also improve your health. Exercise can help prevent unhealthy weight gains as well as prevent the advancement of diseases such as arthritis. Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight can also protect you against cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke.

Swimming

Swimming and other forms of aquatic exercise provide cardio and strength training benefits with minimal risk of injury to aging or arthritic joints, according to research by Jennifer Brach and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Vigorous activity, including swimming, improved physical function better than low-intensity exercise, Brach reported in an article in the April 2004 edition of the "Journal of American Geriatric Society." To add resistance to your aquatic workout, include devices like water-chutes and paddles. Foam noodles and other kinds of foam weights can vary and intensify your routine. The buoyancy of the water offsets the effects of gravity on your joints, while the weight of the water provides resistance to help you warm up, stretch and condition.

Treadmills and Ellipticals

Brach's recommendations for seniors include engaging in enough physical activity to burn 1,000 calories weekly. Achieve this goal by spending 20 to 30 minutes performing a moderately intense workout such as fast-paced walking or jogging, according to Brach. If you enjoy walking or running but skip workouts during inclement weather, you may benefit from a treadmill or elliptical machine. Treadmills provide solid cardiovascular benefits, and work the muscles in your thighs, calves and buttocks. Increase the resistance and incline of the treadmill for a more vigorous workout. An elliptical machine provides similar benefits but with less impact because your feet remain on a plank. Some elliptical machines also include movable arms that allow you to exercise your upper body.

Yoga

Yoga can help you improve strength and flexibility, and may offer relief from some types of degenerative diseases. Dr. Gail Greendale, a Los Angeles board-certified geriatrics specialist, studied the effects of yoga on kyphosis, more commonly known as hunchback. Greendale found that seniors who practiced yoga for one hour three days a week showed a decrease in in kyphosis. These results were published in the September 2009 issue of the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society." A mat is the only equipment you need to do yoga. Take yoga classes or watch online instructional videos to learn proper posture and breathing techniques.