Buying equipment to improve your activity level

This article is an addendum to our January newsletter article on getting more active. Our newsletters can be found on our website under Health Tips to connect the two articles.

There are at least two aspects to equipment purchasing to promote a healthier lifestyle. The very first thing is if you are going to be doing some activity on a regular basis and it requires equipment, you should use it for a while on a trial basis to see if it is something that is compatible with your body, age and interest.

Buying something and finding out later it brothers your back or it is just not enjoyable for you, usually will not be used and the main goal of increasing one’s activity level fails. Perhaps the best way to discover what activity and equipment is compatible with you is to use a gym membership for a short stint and see what works for you.

Planet fitness works off a monthly basis of membership and has a lot of aerobic equipment to try. This could be an option. Exploring bikes, recumbent bikes, ellipticals, treadmills, rowers, steppers, the list goes on and on will help you learn by doing.  Finding the most compatible piece of equipment and using it consistently is how the gains are made with conditioning, weight loss, and improving one’s blood metrics.

After you decide on the type of equipment, one then has to decide on the quality of the piece. From my observation, the tendency to skimp on quality comes back to haunt you later.  It either emerges as a dissatisfaction due to the piece being made so cheaply that it is not fun to use or it breaks. Or, you have improved your conditioning and adeptness and want a more sophisticated piece of equipment.

Say you buy a treadmill and are walking on it but upgrade your conditioning substantially over time (good job) and so want to start jogging on it, but it does not handle the pounding or landing with your body weight.  If you are a heavier person, then this is even more important.

Buying higher quality equipment has its own problems with cost. So, it may be worth just using an inexpensive gym membership like at Planet Fitness until you save enough money to buy a nice bike, treadmill or whatever and this will also allow you to prove you are committed before throwing out some serious cash and creating another clothes hanger in your home.

When the piece of equipment is right and you have some improved conditioning from your efforts, then the piece of equipment starts to become more fun and engaging. A good piece of equipment will then become an investment and provide years of enjoyment. In addition, that enjoyment is translating into a healthier you and you will save money in doctor, specialist and pharmacy costs to help you pay for the extra cost. Something to think about.

In the long run, the extra money spent which contributed to keeping you interested in exercising if amortized over the life of the piece of equipment will actually be minimally different than the cheaper piece as it will last longer and be used more.

I have an old Nordic Track and it continues to work well and challenge me as much as I want. I cannot outgrow it. You can often find these at rummage sales and second hand stores and with a little tune up can be a great exercise tool if you like x-c skiing. So, as far as aerobic equipment, find the type you enjoy and then strategize to purchase the level of quality that will last and provide enjoyment in its performance.

Weight lifting equipment for home use is a real crap shoot when purchasing the devices with combined workout stations. Rarely is it of a quality that will really do what it says. You are better off going to a gym with high quality equipment or go the route of free weights and learning the skills to correct lifting mechanics and a variety of exercises to target the major muscle groups. I have seen cheap equipment at Sam’s Club, Dunam’s, or Dick’s. I would just say buyer beware. Simpler is better and arm yourself with more understanding by coming to PT and having a therapist teach you weight training correctly and devised exercises specifically for the deficits you are exhibiting from an exam.

Hope this helps and good luck on your health journey.

Vincent Hanneken, PT