When a person has bad knees or injuries, they feel resistant to doing exercise because they want to protect their knees.
However, that doesn’t really do any good for this body part. Instead, you should find the right exercise and machine to work out on so you can reduce the pain and strengthen your knees.
With that in mind, we have compiled a comprehensive guide on how to choose the best exercise machine to strengthen knees.
Here are the best exercise machines to strengthen knees you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall (Treadmill): Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill
- Easy To Assemble (Treadmill): OMA Home Treadmills
- Best For Lighter People (Treadmill): FISUP Foldable Electric Treadmill
- Best Overall (Elliptical): Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine
- Best For Heavier People (Elliptical): Bestlucky Elliptical Machine
- Best For Lighter People (Elliptical): Ncient Elliptical Machine
- Best Overall (Stationary Bike): Marcy ME-709
- Best For Seniors (Stationary Bike): JEEKEE Recumbent Exercise Bike
- Best For Beginners (Stationary Bike): Doufit EB-02
- Best Overall (Step Machine): Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper Step Machine
- Compact (Step Machine): L NOW Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper
- Best For A Serious Workout (Step Machine): Hurbo Vertical Climber
| 12 Best Exercise Machines to Strengthen Knees | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill
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Easy To Assemble | OMA Home Treadmills
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Best For Lighter People | FISUP Foldable Electric Treadmill
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Best Overall | Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine
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Best For Heavier People | Bestlucky Elliptical Machine
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Best For Lighter People | Ncient Elliptical Machine
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Best Overall | Marcy ME-709
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Best For Seniors | JEEKEE Recumbent Exercise Bike
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Best For Beginners | Doufit EB-02
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Best Overall | Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper Step Machine
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Compact | L NOW Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper
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Best For A Serious Workout | Hurbo Vertical Climber
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Best Overall (Treadmill): Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill
- Safe and reliable – a safety key or a remote control
- Low-impact on the body - a shock-absorbing 5-layer non-slip running belt
- Able to play your favorite songs – Bluetooth connectivity & speakers
- Heavy and a bit hard to fold
There’re lots of good reasons for everyone (yes, everyone!) to choose this treadmill. But its safety features and decent shock absorption are exactly what we appreciate the most.
The unit boasts a shock-absorbing 5-layer non-slip running belt that efficiently cushions your ankles, knees, muscles, joints, and back. In an emergency, you can instantly turn it off by using the safety key or remote control.
It comes in two modes for walking or running at your desired speeds.
The sound is quiet enough to not disturb the others or if you’re living alone, this treadmill is able to connect Bluetooth to play your favorite music, making your exercise more fun.
| Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill Specifications | |
|---|---|
Peak Horsepower | 2.25HP |
Running Belt Size | 40" x16" |
Speed Range | 1-12km/H. |
Highlight Features | a safety key or a remote control a shock-absorbing 5-layer non-slip running belt Bluetooth connectivity & speakers |
Affordable, safe, and low-impact on the body, the best overall performance of Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill makes it our Top Choice Award winner this year.
Easy To Assemble (Treadmill): OMA Home Treadmills
- Easy to assembly/store – lightweight, easy to fold up & triangular hydraulic support pole
- Low-impact while exercising – extra-large 6-layer elastic cushioning belt
- Controllable – fast control handle
- Not for tight-budget people
- Wish it was able to adjust incline more
Lots of female exercisers or arthritis people love suggesting this treadmill because of not only its functionality but also the ease of assembly.
Despite its durability, the machine is pretty light and easy to fold up for 30% space-saving. And, you can completely trust its heavy-duty triangular hydraulic support pole while storage.
Regardless, it’s low-impact, anti-slip while running, and easy to control the speeds/power.
| OMA Home Treadmills Specifications | |
|---|---|
Peak Horsepower | 2.25 HP |
Running Belt Size | 16.5" X 50" |
Speed Range | 13 KM/H (8.1 MPH) |
Highlight Features | lightweight, easy to fold up & triangular hydraulic support pole extra-large 6-layer elastic cushioning belt fast control handle |
If your budget is loose a little bit, the OMA Home Treadmill is really worth investing in, especially for ease of assembly.
Best For Lighter People (Treadmill): FISUP Foldable Electric Treadmill
- Easy to install or store – the weight of 42 pounds & foldable design
- Minimize shock and impact on your bones - shock mitigation system
- Controllable and convenient to track your workout status - powerful intelligent CNC motor with various speed adjustments & LED monitor connected with Smart Workout App
- Lack of instructions
- Belt quality is not the best
- The function buttons feel cheap
This treadmill is a more affordable option for lightweight people who want something easy to move around and assemble.
It is on wheels while the whole design weighs almost 42 pounds.
Besides, it has many interesting functions. Such as a shock mitigation system for little impact on your bones, a powerful intelligent CNC motor with various speed adjustments, and an LED monitor connected with Smart Workout App.
This is also where you can track your workout status, choose the desired mode, and play your music for extra excitement while running.
| FISUP Foldable Electric Treadmill Specifications | |
|---|---|
Peak Horsepower | 1.95HP |
Running Belt Size | 45.06 x 15.9in. |
Speed Range | 1-10KM/H |
Highlight Features | weight of 42 pounds & foldable design shock mitigation system powerful intelligent CNC motor with various speed adjustments & LED monitor connected with Smart Workout App |
For lighter people who are looking for the easiest-to-assemble treadmill without flattening their wallet, the FISUP fits the bill.
Best Overall (Elliptical): Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine
- Feel reliable - anti-slip textured and extra-wide footprints
- Easily track your heart rates and other indicators – a monitor & pulse grips
- Extra convenience - a smartphone holder & conveniently located water bottle
- Customizable – 16 resistance levels & 24 unique workout modes
- A little bit pricey
- Not really easy to install
This Sunny Health & Fitness elliptical is the best solution for you to workout comfortably at home. It feels reliable due to the anti-slip textured and extra-wide footprints while the pulse grips keep tracking your heart rate while exercising.
There’re lots of practical add-ons in this machine. Such as a smartphone holder, conveniently located water bottle, and up to 24 unique workout modes.
| Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 55 x 23.5 x 64.5 inches |
Max User Weight | 330 pounds |
Resistance Levels | 16 |
Stride Length | 15.5-inch |
Highlight Features | anti-slip textured and extra-wide footprints a monitor & pulse grips a smartphone holder & conveniently located water bottle 16 resistance levels & 24 unique workout modes |
The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical is our favorite option for the best elliptical to strengthen knees this year, due to its exceptional performance.
Best For Heavier People (Elliptical): Bestlucky Elliptical Machine
- Strong - weight capacity of 330 pounds
- Prevent tipping & create a natural ride gesture - extended leg stabilizers + an integrated effective inertia-enhanced flywheel system
- High maneuverability – transportation wheels
- No complaint
For heavy exercisers, we find the Bestlucky Elliptical Machine to be a perfect choice because of its weight capacity of 330 pounds, along with eight reasonable resistance levels.
It also features extended leg stabilizers for tipping prevention and an integrated effective inertia-enhanced flywheel system to offer a more natural ride.
If you’re also worried about how to move it around or how to install it, then don’t. The Bestlucky is built with transportation wheels.
| Bestlucky Elliptical Machine Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 40.9 x 18.9 x 63 inches |
Max User Weight | 330 lbs. |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Stride Length | 13 inches |
Highlight Features | weight capacity of 330 pounds extended leg stabilizers + an integrated effective inertia-enhanced flywheel system transportation wheels |
Designed with everything that a heavy exercise might need – ease of installation, high maneuverability, a durable frame, and more, the Bestlucky Elliptical Machine is worth trying.
Best For Lighter People (Elliptical): Ncient Elliptical Machine
- Enhanced stability - 13-inch non-slip pedals and a heavy-duty base
- Smooth and quiet - V- belt drive & precision-balanced flywheel
- Easy to move and store – transportation wheels
- It might kick your butt
Contracting to heavy people, the most common issue of lightweight ones while using an elliptical is shaking. But with the Ncient, just rest assured as it’s built with 13-inch non-slip pedals and a heavy-duty base for increased stability.
It also gives no impact on your knees while offering a very smooth workout experience.
The weight capacity is 265 pounds.
| Ncient Elliptical Machine Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 40.9 x 18.9 x 63 inches |
Max User Weight | 265lbs. |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Stride Length | 13 inches |
Highlight Features | 13-inch non-slip pedals and a heavy-duty base V- belt drive & precision-balanced flywheel transportation wheels |
We love recommending the Ncient Elliptical Machine for lighter people because of its superb stability and comfort.
Best Overall (Stationary Bike): Marcy ME-709
- Safe & reliable – pedals with safety straps and handlebars
- Easy to store – transportation wheels
- Custom-fit – adjustable seat
- People with long legs might feel the seat slightly backward
- Some heavy exercisers find its seat to be a bit wobbly
While Marcy is a leader in the fitness industry for more than 35 years, the ME-709 is one of their bestsellers.
It is well-loved for many good things – affordability, compact design, custom fit (thanks to the adjustable seat), and reliable feeling. That feeling comes from the pedals with additional safety straps for slippage prevention and the handlebars.
When not in use, just lift it up and move to its storage place if you want to save your home space. It’s built with transportation wheels.
| Marcy ME-709 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 55.5"x 25"x 37.5" |
Max User Weight | 300 lbs. |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Inseam length | 27" - 36" |
Highlight Features | pedals with safety straps and handlebars transportation wheels adjustable seat |
Simple yet functional, without compromising safety, we decided to choose Marcy ME-709 as the best overall stationary bike.
Best For Seniors (Stationary Bike): JEEKEE Recumbent Exercise Bike
- Offer the highest comfort – ergonomic design, recumbent style, and ease of getting on/off the bike
- Customizable – adjustable pedals, seat, and resistance levels
- Easy to track your heart rate – the hand pulse
- A bit costly
This is a wonderful choice for seniors because of its ergonomic design, recumbent style, and ease of getting on/off the bike.
Besides, it’s full of adjustments, from the pedals, seat, and resistance levels, which ensures your comfort during workout. It also has hand pulse sensors for tracking your heart rate, which is a big bonus.
| JEEKEE Recumbent Exercise Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 19.3"W x 53.5"L x 39"H |
Max User Weight | 300lbs. |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Inseam length | 27"-39" |
Highlight Features | ergonomic design, recumbent style, and ease of getting on/off the bike adjustable pedals, seat, and resistance levels hand pulse |
The JEEKEE Recumbent Exercise Bike is our pick for seniors due to its exceptional safety design and high reliability.
Best For Beginners (Stationary Bike): Doufit EB-02
- Extra comfort and support – oversized seat and backrest with adjustments
- Smoother and quieter - an 8.8-pound large flywheel
- Convenient - a bottle holder
- The computer panel could be better
Looking for an entry-level stationary bike to start exercising with? Look no further than the Doufit EB-02.
Aside from lightness and compact design, it highlights an extra-large, padded leather seat and backrest for better support and comfort. Change its position if you want to fit your leg lengths.
The model utilizes an 8.8-pound large flywheel for smoother and quieter performance. Regardless, it has a bottle holder for hydration with ease.
| Doufit EB-02 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 50*17.5*39 Inches. |
Max User Weight | 242 Lbs. |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Highlight Features | oversized seat and backrest with adjustments an 8.8-pound large flywheel a bottle holder |
If you’re in need of an affordable, basic stationary bike for beginners, choose the Doufit EB-02.
Best Overall (Step Machine): Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper Step Machine
- Comfortable – adjustable stepper
- Feel reliable and balance – handlebars
- Affordable
- Not strong enough for advanced exercisers
Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper Step Machine is a safe way to work your deep muscles (especially thighs and butts) with absolutely no pressure point on the joints and bones.
It’s comfortable. While the stepper is adjustable, the added handlebars enhance your balance. This part is also attached to an LCD monitor for tracking your workout status.
| Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper Step Machine Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 17.5L X 18W X 50.5H in |
Max User Weight | 250 lbs. |
Highlight Features | adjustable stepper handlebars LCD screen display |
We decided to give the Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper Step Machine our Best Overall Pick this year because of its fantastic performance.
Compact (Step Machine): L NOW Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper
- Compact and lightweight – measured by 19.7” x 8.7” x 12.6”
- Great grips - two anti-slip textured pedals & skid-resistant rubber base
- Offer full-body workout – added resistance bands
- Instructions aren’t clear
L NOW Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper is the best solution for small house owners to exercise indoors. It’s the most compact and lightweight option in this list, measured only by 19.7” x 8.7” x 12.6”.
But don’t let that fool you about its durability as the whole frame of this step machine is made of high-grade steel. Besides, it’s added with two anti-slip textured pedals for safety.
For extra grips, the base is engineered with skid-resistant rubber. But what we like the most is the additional resistance bands for arm muscle exercising.
| L NOW Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 19.7” x 8.7” x 12.6” |
Max User Weight | 220lbs |
Highlight Features | measured by 19.7” x 8.7” x 12.6” two anti-slip textured pedals & skid-resistant rubber base added resistance bands |
If “compact” is your top priority when looking for a step machine, we suggest the L NOW Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper.
Best For A Serious Workout (Step Machine): Hurbo Vertical Climber
- Burn 2x the amount of calories – offer a natural climbing motion for a full-body workout
- Ideal for heavy people – the weight capacity of 350 pounds
- Compact and easy storage – foldable design
- Slightly overpriced
If you’re an advanced exerciser, this is for you.
The Hurbo Vertical Climber is able to help you burn 2x the amount of calories (up to 500 cals/hour) than other lower-body exercise machines. It’s built for everyone, even heavy people thanks to the sturdy steel frame for 350-pound weight capacity.
When not in use, just fold it up and store it somewhere. It’s designed for space-saving.
| Hurbo Vertical Climber Specifications | |
|---|---|
Max User Weight | 350 pounds |
Highlight Features | offer a natural climbing motion for a full-body workout the weight capacity of 350 pounds foldable design |
The Hurbo Vertical Climber is our recommendation for serious workouts.
How To Choose The Best Exercise Machine to Strengthen Knees?
Types
Functions | Pros | Cons | |
Treadmill | Running Low-impact walking | Safe shock belt to protect knee joints | |
Elliptical | Low-impact cardio workout | Strengthen knee joints | Only suitable for the knee healing process |
Stationary recumbent bike | Ergonomic seat Low-impact | Safe, convenient Good for the back and bad knees | |
Step machine | Low-impact aerobic activity | Compact Strengthen calf muscles |
Smooth chain function
You should test the exercise bike to see if the chain functions smoothly as it’s a crucial factor that directly affects your experience and efficiency.
Resistance
When it comes to resistance, you need to pay attention to the levels and types. A machine with more resistance levels will better help you increase the intensity of your workout.
Mostly, you need to choose between two types of resistance. The first one is fan-based wheel resistance that requires little maintenance, commonly used in budget machines. The second option is magnetic resistance that’s smoother and quieter.
Which Brands Make The Best Exercise Machine to Strengthen Knees?
OMA
With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, this brand takes great pride in developing and producing quality exercise equipment. Its innovative products will help you work out better to strengthen your body.
Sunny Health & Fitness
Over the past decade, this brand has become a market-leading brand in importing and distributing fitness equipment. It promises to deliver the greatest efficiency to users by working with the most reliable brands across the world.
Marcy
Founded in 1959, this brand aims to provide everyone with high-performance equipment for those who exercise at home. Here, you will find products with high quality and competitive prices.
FAQs
Can you strengthen bad knees?
Yes, you can provide that you choose the right workout by focusing on the muscles around the knee.
Is cycling good for knees?
Yes, cycling is a low-impact workout that reduces stress on your knees while helping lubricate the joints.
Is a treadmill bad for knees?
This depends on what type of exercise you apply. If you run or jog, it could put more stress on the knees. But if you walk, it will be similar to working out on an elliptical machine, which is friendly to the knee.
Are stairs bad for knees?
Yes, they are, unfortunately. If you already have bad knees, climbing and descending stairs will worsen the problem.
Is walking or biking better for knees?
These two activities are equally good for knees because they are low-impact exercises and do not cause much soreness to your muscles.
How can I rebuild my knee cartilage?
One of the easiest ways is eating the right type of food. You can try the following: legumes, oranges, pomegranates, green tea, brown rice, nuts, and Brussel sprouts.
Conclusion
This is the end of our complete instruction on finding the best exercise machine to strengthen knees. We hope that you will easily and quickly get the right equipment for your own knees.
Nancy Lang
