Exercise for medical conditions or injuries

If you’re “under doctor’s orders” to exercise, or if you have a physical or medical condition that prevents some forms of exercise, there is a solution—and we’ll help you find it.

We’ve listed the most common exercise challenges that customers bring to a Leisure Fitness store—and the exercise solutions we typically recommend.

Bad knees, ankles, joint problems
Elliptical cross-trainer: low impact, weight bearing. Read more about ellipticals 
Exercise bike: non-impact, non-weight bearing. Read more about exercise bikes

Osteoporosis – improve bone density
Elliptical cross-trainer: weight bearing (most important), low impact
Treadmill: weight bearing (most important), low impact. More about treadmills…
Resistance training: weight bearing

Arthritis
Exercise bike: non-impact, non-weight bearing, range of motion
Elliptical cross-trainer: low-impact, weight bearing, range of motion

Bad back
Recumbent exercise bike: seated, back support, no impact. More about recumbents…
Elliptical cross-trainer: low-impact, low wear and tear, preventative maintenance 
Functional training: stability ball, anything to build core strength.

Rehabilitation maintenance
Range of products to match doctor orders and any previous rehab-exercise program. 

Hypertension
Heart Rate Monitor Read more about Heart Rate Monitors… 
Whatever cardio you enjoy.

Diabetes
Cardio of your choice for weight loss, plus balanced fitness routine that includes strength and flexibility training.

Obesity
Heart rate monitor
Balanced fitness program; healthy eating.

Before you lace up your workout shoes…
The Mayo Clinic recommends talking to your doctor before you start an exercise program if one or more of the following criteria apply:

• You've been sedentary for more than six months
• You're a man 40+ or woman 50+ and haven't had a physical in the past 2 years
• You've ever had a heart attack, or if you have cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or diabetes
• Anyone in your family has died of cardiovascular disease before age 50
• You take medications or follow special diet to improve cholesterol levels
• You take medication to manage a chronic condition
• You smoke, or have emphysema, asthma, allergies or other lung condition
• You have a chronic condition, such as arthritis, that limits your flexibility, strength or endurance
• You're pregnant
• I you've been told by your health care provider not to exercise
• You have noticeable pain in a particular joint or muscle when walking or participating in any type of physical activity
• You've previously experienced a joint or muscle injury for which you haven't received formal treatment, or for which you have persistent symptoms
  

If you haven’t been in a fitness lifestyle, or if you’ve left it for a while…
we recommend checking with your doctor or a sports medicine specialist first. Your doctor may modify the type of exercise recommended for you, depending on your specific physical condition. With your doctor’s input, we’re better able to focus on creating the plan, program and equipment solution that will get you your results.