Low-Impact Conditioning

Easy on the joints, builds the endurance that speeds recovery.

Low-Impact Conditioning exercise illustration

What it helps

Keeps your heart and muscles working with activities that stay gentle on the joints — fitness without the pounding.

How to do it

  1. Pick a comfortable activity: walking, stationary bike, cycling, elliptical, swimming, or rowing.
  2. Warm up 10-15 minutes before your exercises.
  3. Build toward 20-30 minutes as you're able.

Tips

  • Choose what you enjoy — consistency matters more than intensity.

Commonly done most days.

Where this appears in recovery

Low-Impact Conditioning is part of 7 recovery programs, most often at the before surgery · foundation (8–12 weeks before surgery), before surgery · build (4–8 weeks before surgery) and before surgery · peak / final prep (0–4 weeks before surgery) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:

All exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education

These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.