Best Cardio Machine for Hip Pain of 2025: Top 7 Picks

By Nancy LangLast update: 2023-09-02

If you suffer from hip pain, you may feel that it’s very hard to do activities let alone exercise. However, being inactive for too long doesn’t do you nay good either, it will actually cause stiffness and worsen the pain.

In this case, what you need to do is choose the right low-impact workout and exercise on the right machine.

With that in mind, we have compiled a detailed guide to help you find the best cardio machine for hip pain.

Here are the best cardio machines for hip pain you can buy in 2025:

  • Best Overall (Treadmills): Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation Slim Flat Treadmill
  • Best For Lighter People (Treadmills): Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
  • Best Overall (Stationary Bikes): BulbHead As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike
  • Best For Heavier People (Stationary Bikes): Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike
  • Compact (Stationary Bikes): DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Pedal Exerciser
  • Best For Squat Exercise (Rower-Ride Exercise Trainers): Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer
  • Best For Hip Mobility (Rower-Ride Exercise Trainers): EFITMENT SA022
7 Best Cardio Machines For Hip Pain
Best Overall
Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation Slim Flat Treadmill
  • Treadmills
Best For Lighter People
Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
  • Treadmills
Best Overall
BulbHead As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike
  • Stationary Bikes
Best For Heavier People
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike
  • Stationary Bikes
Compact
DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Pedal Exerciser
  • Stationary Bikes
Best For Squat Exercise
Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer
  • Rower-Ride Exercise Trainers
Best For Hip Mobility
EFITMENT SA022
  • Rower-Ride Exercise Trainers

Best Overall (Treadmills): Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation Slim Flat Treadmill

Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation Slim Flat Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation Slim Flat Treadmill
Pros
  • Allow you to choose speed, exercising time, and distance – remote control
  • Easily track your stats - a 14”x 5” digital monitor
  • Safe and comfortable - active-use detection & shock absorbers
  • Energy-saving - Smart Power Saving technology
Cons
  • The running belt might feel a bit too thin to some

While Sunny Health & Fitness has an array of models that are recommended by experts and customers alike, this option is arguably the best for hip pain.

It allows you to choose speed, exercising time, and distance to suit your fitness level. Meanwhile, there’s a 14”x 5” digital monitor that helps you track all of those indicators along with your steps, calories burnt, and more.

For extra safety during the use, it is added with the active-use detection – if it detects no user after 5 seconds, the machine will pause its running belt automatically.

Some other notable features are Smart Power Saving technology, shock absorbers, and flat under-desk design.

Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation Slim Flat Treadmill Specifications

Running Belt Size

14in wide

Walking Speed

0.5 – 3.75 MPH.

Highlight Features

A remote control

A 14”x 5” digital monitor

Active-use detection & shock absorbers

Smart Power Saving technology

Verdict

Giving you more than just a treadmill while keeping the price incredibly low, Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7945 is the best overall performer in this field.

Best For Lighter People (Treadmills): Merax Electric Folding Treadmill

Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
Pros
  • Compact, foldable for simple storage, and easy to move around
  • Smooth, quiet, yet powerful – a 1.5HP motor
  • Lower stress on your hips & safe - a shock-absorption high-density lawn texture belt & quick buttons on handles
Cons
  • The beeping is quite loud when pushing buttons.
  • No pause button

Merax is known for making heavy-duty and functional treadmills, and if you’re a lightweight exercise with some hip issues, this will be a perfect choice.

It is compact, easy to fold for storage, and convenient to move around. The weight capacity of this treadmill is 240 pounds.

Contrasting the modest look, its 1.5HP motor is incredibly powerful yet quiet and smooth. It can easily customize a training program to fit your fitness goals by using the speed ranges of 0.5 – 7.5 MPH, three count-down modes, and 12 preset programs.

To help you with your hip pain, it is designed with a shock-absorption high-density lawn texture belt for both extra comfort and grips during your workouts. And the quick buttons on handles allow you to start/stop the machine rapidly when in need.

Merax Electric Folding Treadmill Specifications

Peak Horsepower

1.5 Horsepower

Running Belt Size

15.7” x 43.3” / 400mm x 1100mm

Walking Speed

0.5 – 7.5 MPH

Highlight Features

A 1.5HP motor

A shock-absorption high-density lawn texture belt & quick buttons on handles

Verdict

Out of many low-impact treadmills for hip pain that we picked, this one has the best performance for lighter people.

Best Overall (Stationary Bikes): BulbHead As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike

BulbHead As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike
BulbHead As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike
Pros
  • Stress-free on hips while giving a high-density workout – low-impact upright sitting position
  • Allow you to exercise both arm and leg muscles - built-in arm resistance bands
  • Compact – measured by 46 x 18 x 9.8 inches
Cons
  • The cycle is small
  • The bars on the side aren’t wide enough for big users

Compact, low-impact design, easy to use, and offering full-body workouts, there’s no real complaint from us about this flawless stationary bike.

While providing 8 levels of resistance to train your leg muscles, it features built-in arm resistance bands. This method of full-body exercising helps you not just built up leg muscles but also the arms while compared to other similar counterparts, it is more compact and easier to store.

The measurements are just 46 x 18 x 9.8 inches. The low-impact sit gesture with a comfortable seat and backrest keeps your hip from pressure.

BulbHead As Seen On TV Slim Cycle Stationary Bike Specifications

Dimension

46 x 18 x 9.8 inches

Max User Weight

300 pounds

Resistance Levels

8

Inseam Length

26”-29”

Highlight Features

Low-impact upright sitting position

Built-in arm resistance bands

Measured by 46 x 18 x 9.8 inches

Verdict

Whenever asked for the best overall stationary bike for hip pain, we always pick this BulbHead.

Best For Heavier People (Stationary Bikes): Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike
Pros
  • Sturdy and heavy-duty – weight capacity of 350 pounds
  • Enhance your comfort while exercising – adjustable seat, oversized seat pads & backrest, adjustable non-slip foot pedals with safety straps
  • Allow you to track your heart rate – pulse sensors
  • Give full-body workouts – handlebars moving back and forth
Cons
  • Big, heavy, and bulky
  • Expensive

Built to be stronger and more sustainable, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RB4708 gives a more reliable experience for the obese to sit on and exercise.

It highlights a robust, heavy-duty steel frame with a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds. Along with an adjustable seat, non-slip foot pedals with safety straps, and oversized seat cushion and backrest, it ensures your comfort during the use.

Handlebars moving back and forth reasonably, giving you nice full-body workouts for higher weight loss efficiency.

While giving 8 levels of resistance to suit your fitness levels, it is built with pulse sensors so that you can track your heart rate easily.

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike Specifications

Dimension

60 x 25.5 x 52 inches

Max User Weight

350 pounds

Resistance Levels

8

Inseam Length

26.5 to 34 in

Highlight Features

Built-in wheels

Accommodate weights up to 350 lbs.

Adjustable seat, oversized seat pads & backrest, adjustable non-slip foot pedals with safety straps

Pulse sensors

Handlebars moving back and forth

Verdict

For those who are looking for an efficient yet safe stationary bike for heavy people to lose weight and get healthier, this fits the bill.

Compact (Stationary Bikes): DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Pedal Exerciser

DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Pedal Exerciser
DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Pedal Exerciser
Pros
  • Space-saving & fun to use – fit under desks as low as 27” & adjustable pedal heights
  • Not disturb your work while using it – smooth and quiet patented magnetic mechanism
  • Functional – an LCD 6-function display
Cons
  • Not really ideal for tall people

The DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle lets you optimize not only your living space but also your time funds.

Thanks to the modest dimensions, it easily fits under standard desks as low as 27”, allowing you to multitask: leg-exercising and gaming/working/watching TV. It works smoothly and quietly to not disturb what you’re doing.

The design itself is patented to bring users healthy pedal motion with low impact on their joints.

You can adjust its pedal height to fit your desk height (up to 10” or down to 9”) for the most comfort. Besides, there’re 8 calibrated resistance levels to choose from. A big plus is that it still provides you with an LCD 6-function display to easily track your training progress.

DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle, Pedal Exerciser Specifications

Dimension

22.9 x 11.5 x 11.1 inches;

Max User Weight

500 pounds

Resistance Levels

8

Highlight Features

Fit under desks as low as 27” & adjustable pedal heights

The smooth and quiet patented magnetic mechanism

An LCD 6-function display

Verdict

Designed to be compact yet functional, the DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Cycle is a great way to make your exercising progress more exciting.

Best For Squat Exercise (Rower-Ride Exercise Trainers): Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer

Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer
Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer
Pros
  • Great maneuverability – made of lightweight aluminum
  • Allow you to do squat with low impact – three resistance bands & adjustable saddle and hand distance control
Cons
  • The resistance bands easily fall off the bottom of the seat when storing

The Sunny Health & Fitness No. 077 allows you to squat at different angles - 30, 60, or 90 degrees – depending on your fitness demands. Meanwhile, it tones up your back and chest muscles by giving multiple hand positions along with adjustable saddle and hand distance control.

It has three resistance bands, each of which is nearly 22 pounds of resistance to consider. Besides, it features a digital monitor to track your progress, like scan, count, calories burnt, and time.

While allowing you to do squat with the minimum impact on knees, back, and joints, its lightweight aluminum construction makes transportation a lot easier.

Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer Specifications

Dimension

36.5 x 17 x 37 inches

Max User Weight

220 Pounds

Resistance Levels

3

Highlight Features

Made of lightweight aluminum

Versatile handlebars

Three resistance bands

Adjustable saddle and hand distance control

Verdict

This option is a perfect rower-ride exercise trainer for people who want to squat exercise but have no balance whatsoever or have knee injuries.

Best For Hip Mobility (Rower-Ride Exercise Trainers): EFITMENT SA022

EFITMENT SA022
EFITMENT SA022
Pros
  • Easy to adjust & customize your hip training program – 12 levels of hydraulic resistance
  • Offer superior reliability and stable experience - end cap levelers, anti-slip grips with two-way adjustable bars and seat, and wide pivoting pedals
Cons
  • Some of the material chipped off

We save this last option for those people who are finding the safest way to have their hips moderately exercise.

It provides 12 levels of hydraulic resistance adjusted by turning a rotary knob. The higher the level, the lower the hips to perform controlled squats at harder flex. Meanwhile, its digital display gives you fitness data, from calories burnt to squat count and time.

Lots of exercisers give good ratings for this model because of its superior stability by taking advantage of the end cap levelers as well as the use of anti-slip grips with two-way adjustable bars and seat, and wide pivoting pedals.

EFITMENT SA022 Specifications

Dimension

41.73 x 19.29 x 42.91 inches

Max User Weight

220lbs.

Resistance Levels

12

Highlight Features

End cap levelers, anti-slip grips with two-way adjustable bars and seat, and wide pivoting pedals

12 levels of hydraulic resistance

Verdict

By providing extra resistance level options, the EFITMENT SA022 allows you to freely choose the most suitable training program to enhance your hip mobility.

How To Choose The Best Cardio Machine For Hip Pain?

Types

The first thing to decide when shopping for a cardio machine is what type to go with. To make this decision, you need to know about all the options available along with their pros and cons.


Pros

Cons

Treadmills

Lower impact experience

Allow for both running and walking

Reduce the pounding effect when running

Not for bad knees

Bulky and pricey

Stationary bikes

Best for hip pain

Allow the hips to externally rotate

Help regain range of motion

Require careful positioning of the seat

Row-N-Ride exercise trainers

Good for joints

Less bulky than treadmills

Can be noisy

Not for bad knees

Low Resistance Setting

Apart from low-impact workouts, you should choose a machine that offers low resistance options. The reason is that high resistance will put more pressure on your hips and likely worsen the pain.

Hand Placements

When shopping for a cardio machine for those with hip pain, make sure it comes with multiple hand placements. This will help the user better stabilize themselves on the machine, making the exercise easier on the hips.

Price

Before finalizing on a cardio machine, it’s important to calculate the total cost when owning it. This includes the purchase cost or the total payment amount if you pay in installments, combined with the monthly electricity bill. If it’s necessary, you should take maintenance costs into account as well.

Which Brands Make The Best Cardio Machine For Hip Pain?

Sunny Health & Fitness

This brand specializes in distributing high-quality fitness products from top manufacturers. Here, you will surely find a product that meets your needs.

Merax

Since its establishment in 1995, this brand has taken pride in its products for innovation to simplify and enhance your workouts. It focuses on high performance and efficiency.

BulbHead

If you are a fan of smart solutions, this is the go-to brand for you. It offers a wide range of products, including fitness products like cardio machines that are trusted for their innovation and practicality.

DeskCycle

With two decades of experience in the industry, this brand comes with products made out of expertise and outstanding engineering. Its cardio machines will make your exercise easier and more convenient.

EFITMENT

This is another well-known importer and distributor of health and fitness products. Over the years, the brand only offers high-quality products at competitive prices. So, if you aim at a balance between performance and pricing, you must try this brand.

FAQs

Should I exercise if my hip hurts?

Yes, you should. Strength and flexibility exercises help you get rid of hip pain if you choose the right workout and exercise properly.

Does walking help hip pain?

Yes, walking does help with arthritis in your hips. It’s a low-impact workout that can relieve the pain.

Is the cardio machine the fastest way to relieve hip pain?

No, it isn’t. The fastest way to relieve hip pain is actually temporary while a cardio machine will help you resolve the key problem. Applying cold packs on the hips for 15 minutes is the fastest way to reduce pain and swelling.

Can stair climbing cause hip pain?

Yes, it can. Climbing stairs a lot can make the bursa in your hip inflamed, causing pain.

Why do my hips hurt when I do abs?

Due to their function and location, the hip flexors often take over when you do abs. This not only takes away the strengthening benefits of your exercise but also causes pain to your hips and thighs.

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that the machine must be safe for your hips, not make it worse. So, we hope that through this comprehensive guide, you will be able to find the best cardio machine for hip pain easily and quickly. Good luck!


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