Table of Contents
If running or high-impact classes aggravate your knees, hips or back, low-impact cardio may be a more comfortable option. At Body Lab Studio in Myrtle Beach, every machine is warmed by its own infrared heat lamps, and four of them suit a gentler day: a seated recline bike, a gliding elliptical, an easy-paced treadmill and a walking infrared sauna.
If your knee pain is sharp, swollen or getting worse, see your doctor or physical therapist before starting any new exercise. The same applies after recent surgery or with a diagnosed joint condition. And if walking the beach already feels good, keep doing it. These machines are for the days, and the people, that need something different.
Why Low-Impact Cardio Is Kinder to Achy Knees
Low-impact cardio keeps your heart rate up without as much wear and tear on your body, according to Cleveland Clinic. The difference comes down to how your body moves and how much weight your legs carry.
- Seated bike: Your body weight rests on the seat instead of your feet, which reduces the stress on your lower joints. Pedaling still bends the knee over and over, so seat position and resistance matter.
- Elliptical: Your feet stay on the pedals and glide, with no step up and down and no moment of impact. Harvard Health describes the weight-bearing as more moderate than running or walking.
- Walking: It loads your ankles, knees and hips, but far less than running does.
Low-impact is not no-impact, and it is not the same as pain-free. Walking is still weight-bearing, so if walking itself hurts, a seated machine is a gentler place to begin. Comfort also varies from one person to the next, which is why no single machine is the right answer for everyone with bad knees.
Not sure which machine to start on?
Tell us how your knees feel and we will help you choose a comfortable starting point.
Book A Free ConsultationWhen to Check With Your Doctor First
Low-impact exercise reduces jarring, but it does not suit every kind of joint pain. Some knee, hip and back symptoms need a professional look before you start a new routine.
Mayo Clinic suggests seeing a doctor about knee pain if:
- your knee cannot take your weight, or feels like it gives way
- it is clearly swollen, or you cannot fully straighten or bend it
- the pain started with a fall, a twist or an injury, or it is severe
- there is redness and swelling along with a fever
We would add a few more to that list. Check with your doctor or physical therapist first if:
- the pain is sharp, or getting worse week by week
- you have had surgery recently
- you have been diagnosed with a joint condition, or you are working with a physical therapist
Our machines also add heat, and the two VacuTherm machines add a gentle vacuum around the lower body. Please check with your doctor before trying them if you:
- are pregnant
- have a heart condition
- take blood pressure medication
- do not handle heat well
- have varicose veins
- have had recent surgery
This list is a starting point, not a full medical screening, so mention anything else that worries you when you book. For general questions about infrared and heat, see our guide on whether infrared therapy is safe.
Once exercise is a reasonable idea for you, the type of movement matters, which is where low-impact cardio comes in.
Four Infrared Machines At Body Lab Studio: Made to Make You Feel Better
Every fitness machine at Body Lab heats you with infrared lamps while you move, and every first session starts on the lowest of three heat levels. The four below suit people who need less strain on their knees, hips or back. You can see the full lineup on our Infrared Fitness sessions in Myrtle Beach page.
Machine | Position and movement | Worth considering before you choose it |
|---|---|---|
VacuTherm Recliner Bike | Seated and reclined, back supported, pedaling forward | Pedaling still bends your knees, so check that the seat and resistance feel comfortable |
Infrared Elliptical | Standing, feet on pedals, a smooth oval glide with arms moving | Needs some balance and hip movement, so it may be less comfortable if you feel unsteady |
Infrared Treadmill | Standing and walking at an easy pace | Walking is weight-bearing, so it works best if walking already feels okay |
Walking infrared sauna | Standing and walking, with the heat on your lower body | Same walking demands, plus extra heat and a gentle vacuum around the legs |
VacuTherm Recliner Bike
The VacuTherm Recliner Bike is a recumbent bike inside a capsule that is warmed by infrared lamps, with a gentle vacuum around your lower body. You sit back in a reclined seat with your feet forward on the pedals and your back supported. It is a seated, low-impact workout that needs no special technique, so it suits beginners and anyone who finds traditional gyms intimidating.
It is a sensible first machine for many people with achy knees, because you are supported and not carrying your weight through your legs. Ask our team to help you set the seat and resistance to a comfortable range.
Infrared Elliptical
On the Infrared Elliptical, your feet follow an oval path without ever landing hard, and your arms work as well, so it feels like a whole-body walk with warmth around you. It asks more of your balance and hips than the bike does. If you feel unsteady, start seated and come back to the elliptical later.
Infrared Treadmill
The Infrared Treadmill is simply a walking machine for this purpose: keep the pace easy and skip the running. If you want to know how a first walk feels, we wrote about your first infrared treadmill session.
Walking Infrared Sauna
This one works like a sauna for your legs. Six infrared lights line your lower body inside an enclosed chamber that seals at the waist with a skirt, and air pumps in and out while you walk at an easy pace for a 30-minute session. We call it the VacuTherm Treadmill.
Compared with the standard Infrared Treadmill, the difference is the sealed chamber, the focus on heat around the lower body and the vacuum. That makes the heat precautions above especially relevant, and it is worth saying so when you book.
When You Want a Bit More
Once the gentle options feel comfortable, our team can suggest a brisker pace on the Infrared Treadmill or the Infrared Stairstepper, a vertical climbing machine. Stair-stepping loads the knees more than the machines above, so it is not a starting point for achy knees. Increase gradually, and back off if your knees object.
Looking for an indoor option in Myrtle Beach?
Our studio is at 5001 N Kings Hwy Unit 110, ready for hot, wet or windy days.
Visit Body Lab StudioWhat the Infrared Heat Adds and What It Doesn't
It helps to separate three things.
- The exercise itself. Whether a workout is easy on your knees depends on the movement: seated, gliding or walking. That is what the sections above describe.
- The heat. Infrared lamps warm you while you move, so exercising feels a little like moving in a warm room instead of a cold gym. Many guests find that pleasant, and the warmth is what makes this infrared cardio rather than ordinary cardio.
- The limits. Infrared warmth is not evidence that a workout is better for an injured joint. We do not claim that infrared heals knees, treats joint pain or replaces physical therapy.
For more on pairing warmth with movement, see how heat and movement work together.
Options for Rest Days
Not every visit needs to be cardio. Two other infrared options suit days when you want warmth without a workout.
- Infrared Body Roller: A rolling massage with an infrared lamp inside. Within about 10 minutes it starts to warm the muscles as you roll.
- Infrared Wellness Pod: An infrared sauna where you lie down with your head outside, warmed by infrared and dry heat.
Both add heat, so the same doctor-first list applies.
Ready for a gentle first session?
Start on the lowest heat level, at your own pace, with our team nearby.
Book My First SessionWhat to Expect on a First Visit
Many people worry about two things before a first session: getting hurt, and being the one who cannot keep up. This is what a first visit involves.
- You work at your own pace. You move on a machine in whatever way your body feels that day, and there is nothing to keep up with.
- Our team helps you choose. Tell us how your knees feel, and we will help you pick a machine to start on.
- Heat starts low. Every first session begins on the lowest heat level.
- Tell us about discomfort. Mention any pain, dizziness or overheating to a team member right away.
- Stop if something feels wrong. If you feel dizzy, overheated or your pain is increasing, stop, step out of the heat and let a team member know.
Our guide on what to wear during infrared therapy covers the practical question of clothing. If you are new to the studio, here is where to start.
Low-Impact Cardio in Myrtle Beach: All Year Round
A walk on the beach is hard to beat, but summer afternoons get hot, some days are wet or windy, and some days your knees would rather not. An indoor, climate-controlled machine session gives those days an option, with the same walking movement or a seated alternative.
Body Lab is Myrtle Beach’s infrared studio, so the whole floor works this way. For older adults and anyone with achy knees, the right machine depends on mobility and symptoms, and our team is happy to talk it through. You will find us at 5001 N Kings Hwy Unit 110, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. If staying active over the years is on your mind, read about staying active as the years add up and movement and mobility.
The Bottom Line
Low-impact cardio can be a comfortable way to keep moving when high-impact exercise bothers your knees, and the right machine depends on what your knees tolerate. If walking is uncomfortable, try the seated bike first.
If your balance is good and walking feels fine, the elliptical or the Infrared Treadmill are reasonable choices.
If you want extra heat around your legs, the walking infrared sauna adds it, with the precautions above.
Infrared adds warmth, not treatment. Get a doctor’s okay first if your pain is ongoing, unexplained or getting worse.
Want help choosing your first machine?
Talk it through with our team before you book. Share how your knees feel and we will suggest where to begin.
Book A Free ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
References
- Cleveland Clinic. 7 Low-Impact Cardio Exercises To Try. July 17, 2025.
- Harvard Health. Why You Should Try Ellipticals. November 24, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic. Knee Pain: Symptoms and Causes. January 25, 2023.
