Taking A Closer Look At Low-Impact vs High-Impact Exercises

Lately, the team at The Real Runner has been traveling around the great state of Colorado as well as other parts of the country to showcase just how amazing our high-intensity, low-impact cardio workout machine really is. Because it looks so different than traditional running, The Real Runner tends to throw people off at first, until they become familiar with how to use our best cardio equipment. Recently, our low-impact cardio machine went through CU Boulder, Raintree Athletic Club in Fort Collins and the 2017 Rocky Mountain Fall Conference & PT Expo at Keystone resort. Keep up with what’s new at The Real Runner by following us on Instagram.

Take Advantage Of The Real Runner Today!

If you haven’t noticed by now, the main benefit of The Real Runner is the fact that there’s little to no impact associated with using our low-impact cardio workout machine. This means that if you’re prone to running or high-impact-related sports injuries, you can still reap the cardio benefits of running without worrying about subjecting your body to the harsh impact of the ground. In today’s blog post - in the spirit of traveling around and spreading the good word of The Real Runner - we’re going to look at low-impact versus high-impact workouts, as well as the difference between impact and intensity.

To read what others have boasted about our revolutionary low-impact running exercise machine, check out our testimonials here.

Impact And Intensity

The terms “impact” and “intensity” are often confused with one another. Impact simply refers to the force of your body when it is used in a particular exercise. Intensity refers to the level of difficulty, focus and power required to execute an exercise.

High-impact exercises typically consist of things like running, plyometrics (i.e. jumping), and other activities where the body is making constant contact by repeatedly pounding the ground. Low-impact exercises, on the other hand, usually means that one foot stays in contact with the ground, including activities like walking, climbing, using an elliptical, or riding a bike.

High Speed, Low Drag

Now, low-impact workouts do not necessarily mean that they’re low-intensity. Since high-impact exercises tend to put a lot more stress on the joints - particularly the ankles, knees, hips and back - it’s a good thing that low-impact exercises (cough cough The Real Runner) can be quite intense. You can preserve your joints, bones, and muscles while getting an aerobic, cardiovascular-enhancing workout by doing things like increasing your range of motion, increasing your speed and adding resistance, changing directions or even ramping up your incline.

Examples Of Low-Impact, High-Intensity Workouts

Besides using The Real Runner to get an efficient and effective low-impact workout, power walking and swimming are two great examples of activities that provide no impact on your joints. Adding short bursts of speed or an occasional steep hill to your walking workouts can actually help you increase the intensity of your workouts, in addition to your overall calorie burn.

Other great examples include things like climbing stairs (those stair stepping machines are no joke after a while), riding a bike or pedaling on an elliptical. While the intensity of these workout methods generally depends on your personal effort, they’re a great way to get your cardiovascular exercise in without worrying about putting unnecessary pressure on your joints.

Walking lunges while pressing hand weights overhead is a great way to get an intense workout without climbing on a cardio machine. We also recommend the side step with deep squats and a resistance band around the ankles for a workout that will have you feeling the burn for an extended period of time. Lastly, don’t forget about dancing and aerobics, as these activities generally incorporate a lot of overhead arms and movement by using large ranges of motion.

Who’s The Best Fit For Low-Impact Exercises?

We get this question quite a bit when we go around and showcase The Real Runner. Ideally, just about everyone can use our low-impact running machine with little to no issues, provided they have normal use of their muscles.

Usually, low-impact exercises are the most appropriate for beginners as well as people with arthritis or osteoporosis. Older adults, individuals who are obese, pregnant women and other people with bone, joint or connective tissue injuries are a good fit for low-impact exercises, and should generally avoid conventional ‘pound-the-pavement’ running. As you can guess, this is because low-impact exercises tend to be less jarring on the body and joints, while also being less intense overall. Indeed, according to the American Council on Exercise, keeping at least one foot on the ground at all times will reduce your risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Finding Your Balance

If you can work in some high-impact cardio exercises without any pain or harming your body, it’s a great way to strengthen parts of your body that aren’t strengthened in the same way with low-impact activities. So, if you can actually run, that’s great, but you’ll also want to balance it out by taking a spin class or doing something else to keep the weight off your feet. If you’d like to run but it’s too painful, that’s where we really shine…

The Real Runner Is Your Total Cardio Solution

The brilliance of our low-impact running solution is that individuals who like to run but can’t due to knee pain and joint complications now have a viable option! We’re proud to show people of all walks of life how using our low-impact cardio machine is beneficial and a great, safe way to do aerobic training. Discover more about The Real Runner here!