Low-Impact Cardio Machines for Bad Knees and Hips

If you can put some weight through your legs, a PhysioStep recumbent stepper or bike gives you real cardio with the least knee and hip strain of any machine in this guide. If you can't weight-bear at all, an arm-only ergometer or an arm-and-leg combo trainer you can run on arms alone lets you keep training while the joint heals.

Quick Decision Summary

• Best low-cost option for weight-bearing rehab: PhysioStep LXT (roughly $3,850–$4,150). Linear stepping motion, 360-degree swivel seat, and the cheapest of the six.
• Best for one-sided weakness after a stroke or a single hip or knee injury: PhysioStep PRO (roughly $5,500–$5,900). The only machine here with independent left and right leg action.
• Best for a true non-weight-bearing restriction: OmniTrainer (roughly $6,700–$7,300). Arms only, ADA-compatible, and no seat transfer required at all.
• Best value if you want the option to add leg work later: PhysioCycle XT or CyclePlus (roughly $2,400–$2,800). Both start as arm-only machines and let you bring the legs in once you're cleared.
• Skip the swivel-seat models if a step-through frame matters more than a rotating seat. The CyclePlus's walk-through design and 400 lb capacity fit bariatric or balance-limited users better than a swivel seat does.

This guide picks up where our general guide to exercise equipment for bad knees leaves off. That article covers ellipticals, recumbent bikes, and rowers in general terms. Below are six specific rehab-grade machines, sorted by how much your knees or hips actually have to do.

Compare by how much leg motion is required

What actually separates these machines

All six are seated and low-impact, so the biggest practical differences aren't about intensity. They're about how you get onto the machine and how much mobility that takes.

The PhysioStep LXT, PRO, and MDX each use a 360-degree swivel seat, which lets a user rotate to the side for an easier, safer transfer instead of stepping over a frame. The PRO goes a step further: its seat also removes completely for a direct wheelchair-to-machine transfer, which the LXT and MDX don't offer.

The CyclePlus and PhysioCycle XT skip the swivel seat and use a walk-through frame instead, so there's no crossbar to step over. The CyclePlus carries the highest fixed-seat weight capacity of the group at 400 lb, 100 lb more than the PhysioCycle XT.

The OmniTrainer removes the transfer question entirely. It's ADA-compatible and built for a wheelchair user to train directly from their own chair, with no seat and no transfer at all.

Arm mechanics differ too: the CyclePlus's arm handles rotate independently of the pedals, while the PhysioCycle XT links arms and legs together for a combined-effort protocol. That distinction matters if a clinician wants a patient training arms and legs at different intensities rather than in lockstep.

Which one fits your knee or hip condition

The CDC notes that joint-friendly, low-impact activity is linked to better pain, function, and quality of life for people with arthritis in general population data, though it doesn't tell you which machine or motion is right for your specific joint. That still comes from your physical therapist or doctor.

• Mild-to-moderate arthritis or general joint pain, still weight-bearing: The PhysioStep LXT's linear stepping motion avoids the end-range rotation that can flare up an arthritic knee, and it's the lowest-priced option in this collection.
• Recovering from a total knee or hip replacement, doctor-cleared for gentle motion: The LXT or the PhysioStep MDX both keep the joint moving through a short, controlled range without the twisting a standing elliptical requires.
• Hip pain on one side, or one leg noticeably weaker: The PhysioStep PRO's independent left/right pedaling is the only machine in this group that lets you load one leg differently than the other.
• Non-weight-bearing restriction, can't put weight on the leg at all: Use the OmniTrainer for arms-only cardio, or the CyclePlus or PhysioCycle XT if you want a machine that also lets you add light leg cranking once you're cleared, without buying a second machine.

Which one for your facility

A PT clinic treating a mix of knee, hip, and stroke patients usually ends up with two or three of these rather than one: an LXT or PRO for general weight-bearing rehab, plus an OmniTrainer or CyclePlus for non-weight-bearing and post-surgical cases in the same room.

Senior living communities and active-aging programs tend to standardize on the MDX or a CyclePlus, since both cover a wider range of resident ability levels on one machine.

Home buyers recovering from a single procedure usually only need the one machine that matches their current restriction. Ask your PT which motion you're cleared for before you buy.

All six models live in our Physical Therapy Recumbent Bikes collection and Upper Body Ergometers & eTrainers collection, where you can compare full specs side by side.

Price and total ownership

Across the six models, price runs roughly $2,400 to $7,300 depending on how much leg motion the machine requires and how specialized its transfer mechanism is. The arms-only OmniTrainer and the independent-pedaling PhysioStep PRO sit at the top of that range; the arm-and-leg combo machines sit at the bottom.

All six ship free, and all six carry the same Health Care International warranty: lifetime on the frame, 3 years on mechanical and electrical parts, and 1 year on labor. The CyclePlus and PhysioCycle XT specifically ship LTL freight with curbside liftgate delivery and need the seat, arms, and display assembled on site, with optional white-glove assembly available at checkout.

Freight and assembly details for the LXT, PRO, MDX, and OmniTrainer aren't broken out the same way on their current product pages. Confirm delivery method and any assembly requirement with WorkoutHealthy before you finalize a room layout or install date.

Space, delivery, and installation

The CyclePlus needs roughly a 63" by 24" footprint and weighs about 180 lb; the PhysioCycle XT needs roughly 60" by 25" and weighs about 144 lb. Both figures come from each product's own published specs.

Published footprint dimensions aren't currently listed for the LXT, PRO, MDX, or OmniTrainer. Since the LXT, PRO, and MDX all use a swivel seat, budget extra clearance beyond the machine's base footprint for the seat to rotate through its full arc, and confirm the exact number with WorkoutHealthy before you commit to a room layout.

Power requirements are confirmed for two of the six: the CyclePlus runs on a standard outlet or self-powered, while the PhysioCycle XT requires a standard 120V outlet. Power draw isn't listed for the LXT, PRO, MDX, or OmniTrainer, so confirm that detail with WorkoutHealthy if your install site has limited outlet access.

Why heart rate climbs faster on an arms-only machine at the same effort level

Every machine in this lineup shows a different mix of numbers on its console: watts, RPM, resistance level, METs. None of them sits on the same scale from one machine to the next, which matters most for anyone whose rehab plan moves them between a leg machine and an arms-only one as they get cleared for more motion.

Watts is the least reliable number to carry between machines. It measures mechanical power output, not how many muscles are producing it, and console calibration varies by manufacturer.

The federal Compendium of Physical Activities lists moderately hard stationary cycling (90 to 100 watts) at roughly 6.8 METs, a measure of energy cost, while general arm-ergometer exercise is listed separately at roughly 2.8 METs at a light effort level. That's not a matched-wattage comparison, but it illustrates how differently the same nominal effort registers depending on which muscles are doing the work.

A 2001 study in the Journal of Exercise Physiology Online found that heart rate and oxygen consumption rise faster during arm exercise than leg exercise at a matched workload, because arm muscles are smaller, contract more statically, and return less blood to the heart per stroke. In practice, if you're moved from a leg-based machine like the PhysioStep LXT to an arms-only OmniTrainer during a non-weight-bearing phase, a heart rate that felt moderate on your legs may show up higher on your arms while you're doing objectively less total work.

The CDC defines moderate intensity as roughly 3 to 5.9 METs and vigorous intensity as 6.0 METs or more, based on energy cost rather than any single machine's console reading. That's why METs and heart rate travel between machines more reliably than watts or resistance level do.

Neither one replaces a target heart rate range set by your physical therapist or surgeon, which matters most in the weeks after a joint replacement or other surgery, when your actual restrictions matter more than any general formula.

The decision rule: if your rehab plan has you moving between a leg machine and an arms-only machine on this list, don't assume the same wattage or resistance level means the same effort. Ask your PT for a heart rate range or a perceived-exertion target instead, and re-check it every time you change machine type, not just when you change resistance level.

Frequently asked questions

What does freight and assembly cost?

Free shipping is included on every model above. The CyclePlus and PhysioCycle XT ship LTL freight with curbside liftgate delivery and need the seat, arms, and display assembled on site; delivery and assembly details for the other four vary by address and facility access and get confirmed once your order is placed.

What's the warranty?

All six carry the same Health Care International warranty: lifetime on the frame, 3 years on mechanical and electrical parts, and 1 year on labor.

How do I know which motion my knee or hip can handle right now?

We're not a substitute for medical advice. Ask your physical therapist or surgeon which motion type and range you're currently cleared for, then compare that clearance against the models in the table above, or browse the full Physical Therapy Recumbent Bikes collection to find the closest match.

Can one machine cover both a bad knee and a bad hip?

Usually yes. All six machines above load the knee and hip together in a seated, reclined position, so a machine chosen for knee pain generally works for hip pain too. The exception is one-sided weakness, where the PhysioStep PRO's independent pedaling matters more than which joint hurts.

Why does my knee or hip still feel a pinch on a machine that's supposed to be low-impact?

Seat position changes how far your hip and knee have to bend at the top of the step or pedal stroke, often more than which model you choose. A seat set too close pushes the joint into a sharper bend right where an arthritic or post-surgical joint is most likely to flare, regardless of whether you're on a stepper, a bike, or an elliptical. Before assuming a machine is the wrong fit, back the seat off a notch or two and see if the pinch goes away.

Making the right choice

If you can put some weight through your legs and your PT has cleared linear stepping motion, start with the PhysioStep LXT. It's the lowest-priced machine here, and its swivel seat makes getting on and off straightforward.

If one leg is weaker than the other after a stroke or a single-joint injury, the PhysioStep PRO's independent pedaling is worth the higher price over the LXT or MDX. If you can't bear weight at all, the OmniTrainer or a CyclePlus set to arms-only keeps you training without violating a non-weight-bearing restriction.

Before you order any of these, confirm two things with your physical therapist or surgeon: which motion type you're currently cleared for, and what heart rate or perceived-exertion range you should train in. Then confirm footprint, delivery method, and assembly details with WorkoutHealthy for the specific model you choose.

Ready to compare specs side by side? Browse the Physical Therapy Recumbent Bikes collection or the Upper Body Ergometers & eTrainers collection.

References and Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Osteoarthritis" (archived page). Arthritis. View source. Accessed August 2026.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "How to Measure Physical Activity Intensity." Physical Activity Basics. View source. Accessed August 2026.
• Ainsworth, B.E., Haskell, W.L., Herrmann, S.D., et al. "2011 Compendium of Physical Activities: A Second Update of Codes and MET Values." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(8), 1575–1581, 2011. PubMed record.
• Mayo, J.J., Kravitz, L., Wongsathikun, J. "Detecting the Onset of Added Cardiovascular Strain During Combined Arm and Leg Exercise." Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 4(3), 53–60, 2001. View source.