Always keep painless movement sequences when exercising and listen to your body.
Credit: LIVESTRONG.com
Have you ever tried to get up from a crouch or feel pain while kneeling on the gym floor? There are some exercises that just don’t work for every body. And that’s fine! But that does not mean that they are completely off the table.
With some affordable fitness equipment, you can make less accessible exercises work for you. Browse our 15 trainer-approved adaptive training tools to better tailor your workout to your body and needs.
Although they are best known as yoga straps, they are much more versatile exercise equipment than you can imagine, according to Christine Bowden, CPT, a certified personal trainer, yoga therapist, and adaptable athlete. “Yoga straps are often underestimated and are an amazing, budget-friendly way to make a modified workout more efficient,” she says.
You can put a yoga strap around your feet to make your arms and legs longer and to deepen your stretch as you warm up or cool down. Or use them to add stability to exercises like the one-legged deadlift. Simply wrap the strap around a sturdy structure (like a squat rack or banister) and hold the strap in your free hand for a little extra balance.
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Protecting your joints during exercise is always beneficial, but especially if you are prone to pain. To give your knees or elbows a bit more cushioning and comfort while exercising, Bowden recommends investing in a training mat.
When you’re on your knees or elbows, simply place the pad under your joints for extra support. You can also place the pad on your lap for hip bumps to make your hip bones a little more comfortable.
Look for a mat made of non-slip material in the product description. And prioritize a mat that is marketed for knees or joints in general.
1. Yes4All foam exercise pad
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 19
2. ProsourceFit exercise pad
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 19.99
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 19.99
Your gym may already have a suspension trainer, but if you don’t, you can pack one right in your gym bag. Or you can use yours at home.
This exercise machine is great for building basic strength because it can help you modify and get extra support during a lot of exercises like squats, says Bowden.
All you have to do is attach the handles to a tall anchor that can hold your weight securely. Let’s say you need a little extra support at the bottom of your squat. You can pull on the handlebars to help your body get up again.
1. TRX ALL-IN-ONE suspension training
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 167.95
2. GO Suspension Trainer System
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 129.95
3. Lifeline Jungle Gym Suspension Trainer System
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 99.99
Yes, you can wipe yourself with a towel in the gym. But it’s also a pretty handy exercise tool. A towel is an easy way to add a little extra support and cushioning to the gym, according to Bowden.
You can put a towel under your knees when doing a knee exercise to give your joints extra support. If you have a sensitive back, you can roll it up and use it as extra support when sitting on a bench.
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2. AIDEA 4PK cooling towel
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3. THE RAG COMPANY training towel
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Resistance band with a long loop
There’s no shortage of workouts you can do with a long loop resistance band. But these ligaments are also a great tool for modifying other movements, according to Bowden.
Most often, people use these to do pull-ups, she says. All you have to do is anchor the band to the top of the bar and slide your knee or foot into the band. This gives you a little extra boost as you pull your body up.
1. MKAS Long Resistance Bands Set
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 14.99
2. LEEKEY resistance band set
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 28.97
3. Tifereth pull-up bands
Buy it:Amazon.com;Price:$ 10.99
