What Is Low-Impact Exercise?  

If you’re new to the workout scene, nursing an injury, or returning to the gym after a break from exercise, don’t overlook the importance of low-impact exercises. Low-impact workouts can be a key part of almost any schedule and play a role in achieving all kinds of fitness goals.

Low-impact exercises put little to no pressure on your joints, but don’t let that fool you. There are such things as low-impact, high-intensity exercises, and these sessions can get your heart pumping and sweat brewing. Since they aim to reduce the stress on your joints, low-impact workouts challenge the body with less risk of injury.

If weight loss is part of your health journey, low-impact sweat sessions can be integral to your workout routine. This article will review the science behind low-impact exercises and some of the best low-impact exercises for weight loss at home or at the gym.

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Low-Impact Exercise vs. High-Impact Workouts

High and low-impact exercises are both used to reach specific training goals, and both can be essential components to our overall fitness. Plus, they can each help support the other. Understanding your needs and goals can help you design a training program that sets you up for success.

So, what are low-impact exercises? Low-impact exercise generally includes anything that’s easy on your joints and fluid in motion. Some of the most common types of low-impact training include walking, swimming, cycling, and yoga. Low-impact exercise can also serve as active recovery days or help your body safely work through a recovering injury.

High-impact exercises, like running, plyometrics, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), put more stress on your joints and can put you at a higher risk of injury. High-impact training can be an effective training method, but if you’re not sure where to start, consider consulting a certified personal trainer to help you safely incorporate high-impact movements into your workouts.