{"id":3534,"date":"2025-01-24T09:20:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T09:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/understanding-low-impact-cardio-top-workouts-to-explore.html"},"modified":"2025-01-24T09:20:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T09:20:45","slug":"understanding-low-impact-cardio-top-workouts-to-explore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/health\/understanding-low-impact-cardio-top-workouts-to-explore.html","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Low-Impact Cardio: Top Workouts to Explore"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to cardio, high-intensity exercises \u2014 like plyometrics,\u00a0boxing, and HIIT \u2014 tend to get the most buzz. And yes, they can offer a killer workout.<\/p>\n

But there are plenty of reasons to incorporate low-impact cardio into your fitness routine, too.<\/p>\n

For starters, low impact cardio is suitable for people of all sizes and fitness levels, which makes it a great starting point for beginners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who have the most weight to lose can begin an exercise program with low-impact cardio without worry about injury or burnout,\u201d says\u00a0Amanda Lim, an ACE-certified personal trainer.<\/p>\n

Low-impact cardio can also be a smart choice on recovery days, or if you\u2019re looking to\u00a0stay active while pregnant\u00a0or take it easy while coming back from an injury.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

What Is Low Impact Cardio?<\/h2>\n

Low impact cardio is any form of cardio exercise where at least one foot stays in contact with the ground or equipment at all times.<\/p>\n

This lightens the impact (read: stress) on your joints.<\/p>\n

Cycling, walking, rowing, and elliptical sessions are a few obvious examples of low-impact cardio.<\/p>\n

Certain yoga and\u00a0barre workouts\u00a0also qualify as low-impact cardio, as long as the workout is intense enough to\u00a0raise your heart rate\u00a0and breathing, as well as challenge your cardiovascular system.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Is Low Impact Cardio Good for Weight Loss?<\/h2>\n

Yes! Low-impact cardio may not seems as impressive as a set of burpees, box jumps, or hill sprints \u2014 but it can still be an effective option for fat loss.<\/p>\n

Minute for minute, low-impact cardio may not burn as many calories as you would during a\u00a0HIIT workout.<\/p>\n

But low-impact workouts don\u2019t put as much stress on your joints, which means they can be done more frequently.<\/p>\n

You can also do low impact cardio for longer periods of time \u2014 \u201cmeaning that people can maintain higher overall activity levels and less sedentary time than they could with a shorter but more intense workout,\u201d Lim says.<\/p>\n

How Often Should You Do Low Impact Cardio?<\/h2>\n

You can probably do low impact cardio in some form or another every day \u2014 that\u2019s one of the beautiful things about it!<\/p>\n

The\u00a0CDC recommends\u00a0that adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity cardio exercise. Depending on your fitness goals, you may need to increase your time or intensity.<\/p>\n

How can you gauge the intensity of your low impact cardio workout? Pay attention to your breath.<\/p>\n

During moderate-intensity exercise, you\u2019re likely to be able to talk during your workout, but you\u2019d struggle to sing your favorite song.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t say more than a few words without pausing to catch a breath, you\u2019ve moved into vigorous-intensity territory.<\/p>\n

\"Elise<\/p>\n

What Is the Best Low-Impact Cardio Workout?<\/h2>\n

Low-impact cardio can help you maintain and improve overall health, and each workout has its own unique benefits.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of the best low-impact workouts:<\/p>\n