The best exercise machines for back pain are comfortable to use and fit your space and budget.

Image Credit: LWA/Dann Tardif/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Image Credit: LWA/Dann Tardif/DigitalVision/GettyImages

  • How We Chose
  • Treadmill
  • Elliptical
  • Vertical Climber
  • Recumbent Bike
  • Machines to Avoid
  • How to Choose

If you’re experiencing back pain, it’s important to get approval from your physical therapist or health care provider before engaging in any form of exercise. Your doctor may even be able to create a personalized exercise program designed to relieve back pain while helping you lose weight.

We turned to a few expert resources. Harvard Health lists the number of calories burned in 30 minutes for people of three different body weights. We took the estimate for a 155-pound person and multiplied it by two to get calories burned per hour. Because some activities list estimates for different intensity levels, we provided a range. This will tell you how many calories you’ll burn at a lower intensity and how many you’ll burn at a higher intensity.

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The Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill

Image Credit: Echelon

Image Credit: Echelon

​Calories burned per hour: ​266 to 350* *Harvard Health doesn’t provide estimates for treadmill walking specifically, so we used the information listed for walking at a pace of 3.5 miles per hour (mph) and 4 mph.

*Harvard Health doesn’t provide estimates for treadmill walking specifically, so we used the information listed for walking at a pace of 3.5 miles per hour (mph) and 4 mph.

Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill ($1,299.99, Echelon) Sunny Health and Fitness Foldable Walking Compact Treadmill ($399.99, Sunny Health and Fitness) NordicTrack Commercial 1750 ($1,899, NordicTrack)

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The NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer Series FS10i

Image Credit: Nordictrack

Image Credit: Nordictrack

​Calories burned per hour: ​648

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The CLMBR Connected vertical climber

Image Credit: CLMBR

Image Credit: CLMBR

​Calories burned per hour: ​600 to 1,600

VersaClimber ($2,295-$2,395, VersaClimber) MaxiClimber XL ($399, MaxiClimber) CLMBR Connected ($2,495-$3,095, CLMBR)

The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike

Image Credit: Schwinn

Image Credit: Schwinn

​Calories burned per hour: ​504 to 556* *Harvard Health doesn’t provide estimates for a recumbent bike specifically, so we used the information listed for a stationary bike (both moderate and vigorous pace).

*Harvard Health doesn’t provide estimates for a recumbent bike specifically, so we used the information listed for a stationary bike (both moderate and vigorous pace).

NordicTrack Commercial R35 ($1,499, NordicTrack) Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike ($649, Schwinn Fitness) Pro-Form 440 ES ($699, Pro-Form)

Make sure to engage your core while using any of these machines. Holding your core in tight to your spine can help prevent lower back pain during exercise.