Spinning at 50?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2005
Spinning at 50?
2
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 2:54pm
My dad is turning 50 this year, and he is in search of a cardio workout that "will work him out" but won't kill him or blow out his knee.He walks 3 miles a day but is in search of a workout with more intensity. Jogging is what has done damage to his knee before. He has been active all his life,is in pretty decent shape for his age and is curious about spin classes.
I understand you can go at your own intensity by choosing your resistance.Is it safe on the knees?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 8:16pm
Hi. I've never tried spinnning but maybe he could check with a trainer at a gym and get some answers.

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Sat, 05-12-2007 - 8:51pm

HI! I am a group exercise instructor and I have tried spinning a number of times. It is fine for your knees because you can set your own resistance and you are keeping your knees facing forward. Your Dad can ask the instructor before starting the class to make sure his seat is set right and what he should do to protect his knees. (Tell him to make sure the instructor is certified with something like Johnny G spin...I think it is called something else now.) It is very important that seat height is right for the knees and the handle bars are set right to protect the back. He may want to invest in a gel pad for the seat cover.

Walking is a great way to exercise. He could use a tread mill and keep doing different intervals...change the speed and the incline every 2 minutes or so. He should use "perceived rate of exertion" to make sure he is getting different intensities and it will help with any boredom issues by doing this.

Oh, by the way...I am a bit older than your Dad and I started spinning just a couple of years ago on and off. I only get to do it when I am not teaching/subbing a lot of classes.

Grace

Keep on keeping on!     


Grace  


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