The Best Cardio Exercises for Losing Weight with a Bad Back is a low impact cardio workout from Jessica Smith that is geared toward people with back pain. It is super short so if it is your cardio day, you probably want to repeat this a few times. Some of the exercises are done on the floor and some use a step. If it is a step move, Jessica shows versions that do not use the step. This is definitely a good choice for people who are mobility challenged and or/in pain. I used it in conjunction with several of Jessica’s workouts for people with back pain (see review for 20 Minute Total Body Strength Workout). This was the last workout I did so I was able to finish my workout session with a little bit of cardio. This is nowhere near the intensity I am accustomed to working out at but since I am pain, I am just grateful I am able to do something more than gentle yoga today–which is what I have been limited to for the past 5 days. I have been feeling like a slug!
The Best Cardio Exercises for Losing Weight with a Bad Back is 11:24 minutes; 2 minute warm up (marching in place while Jessica talks) and 45 second cool down/stretch. Equipment: square step @ 8 inches.
- Still marching in place, push arms overhead then pull them down into goalpost
- Step side to side
- Alternating hamstring curls; add pushing arms in front of you; changes to arms pressing overhead
- Step side to side but this time tap one foot behind the other in lateral skater fashion; add swinging arms side to side in front of body
- Alternate tapping toes to top of step; add swinging opposite arm overhead when tapping toe
- Step on and off step
- Straddle step on and off step
- Alternating step onto step with a knee raise
For more info on JessicaSmithTV and other (free) streaming workouts I’ve sampled and reviewed, check out my Streaming page.
