How to Go Low-Impact at the Gym

Exercise physiologist and Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Alexander Rothstein, Ed.D., discusses with GQ how to achieve a low-impact cardio workout at the gym. For those recovering from injury or looking to protect their joints, swimming, ellipticals, spin bikes, air bikes, and treadmills—at an incline—offer excellent low-impact exercise.

Rothstein notes that while “swimming is very good for the body as a cardiovascular application, and for moving the joints through various ranges of motion,” it doesn’t train the body for everyday movements compared to something like walking on an incline treadmill.

He offers similar caution for the elliptical: “The ones that are fixed might not fit your natural hip, knee, and ankle motion very well.” To combat this, Rothstein suggests seeking an elliptical machine that allows you to alter the stride length.