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 we carry. 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.

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 the specific rehab-grade machines we sell, sorted by how much your knees or hips actually have to do.

Compare by how much leg motion is required

Which one fits your knee or hip condition

• Mild-to-moderate arthritis or general joint pain, still weight-bearing: The PhysioStep LXT's linear stepping motion avoids the end-range rotation that flares 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does freight and assembly cost?

Free shipping is included on every model above. Assembly and delivery method vary by address and facility access, so request a quote and we'll confirm both before you order.

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 call us and we'll match that clearance to a specific machine.

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.

Not sure which machine fits your situation? Request a quote and tell us your restriction — we'll point you at the right model.