Office Gym + Desk Exercise Equipment: The Ultimate List
The sedentary nature of office work has led many to seek innovative solutions to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine, giving rise to the popularity of desk exercise equipment. As the awareness of the health risks associated with prolonged sitting grows, individuals are increasingly turning to creative solutions to stay active while at work.
More companies are starting to recognize the importance of employee well-being and are offering office gym access as part of their workplace wellness initiatives. By providing access to exercise equipment within the office environment, these forward-thinking companies are empowering their employees to prioritize their health and physical activity, even amidst a busy work schedule.
And being active is more than just occasionally opting for standing desks (although a standing desk does help break up periods of prolonged sitting) in place of an office chair.
So, here is your list of options for desk exercise equipment and more general office gym equipment.
Options for Desk Exercise Equipment
1. Under desk Treadmill
Under desk treadmills, or treadmill desks, have revolutionized the traditional office setup by allowing individuals to walk or jog at a slow pace while completing their daily tasks. This innovative piece of equipment addresses the sedentary nature of desk jobs head-on, offering a practical solution to infuse physical activity seamlessly into the workday.
They are also meant to be quiet and compact to ease storage and take up minimal office space; Arguably, they are one of the best desk exercise equipment amongst all the options.
2. Recumbent bike
While recumbent bikes aren’t necessarily designated as “desk exercise equipment”, they are compact and quiet enough to fit into an office environment. Evenmore, some come with a desk option so you could read or work on your laptop during use.
3. Under desk bike
An under desk bike is a compact and discreet piece of equipment designed to fit under your desk, allowing you to pedal quietly while you work. Desk bikes provide a convenient way to break up the sedentary nature of a desk job.
4. Treadmill
An incline treadmill is another option for the office that you may not have considered. While running might not be the most practical choice due to noise and the need to change afterward, walking at an incline presents a good alternative. Furthermore, there are plenty of treadmills available with a small footprint and built for portability, making them suitable for office use.
5. Dumbbells – adjustable or fixed
While you’re unlikely to do a full strength training session at the office, adding a pair of dumbbells to your workspace can offer a convenient way to sneak in some resistance training throughout the day. Adjustable dumbbells are particularly suitable for office use, allowing you to easily change the weight to suit your needs and space constraints. On the other hand, fixed dumbbells may be better suited for a designated office gym setup where you have more space to store and use them effectively.
6. Under desk elliptical
These are another popular type of under desk exercise equipment among individuals who spend long hours sitting at a desk and are looking for a convenient way to stay active and improve circulation throughout the day.
Similar to the under desk bike, an under desk elliptical provides a low-impact cardio workout while sitting at your desk.
These machines typically feature adjustable resistance levels and are designed to be quiet and discreet, making them suitable for use in office environments without disturbing coworkers.
7. Stability ball
A stability ball is a fun piece of equipment commonly used for engaging core and back exercises.
Also, incorporating a stability ball into your routine is incredibly convenient. Its lightweight and compact nature means you can easily move it around your office space and keep it tucked away under your desk until you’re ready to use it.
8. Resistance bands
This is probably one of the most minimalist pieces of exercise resistance equipment out there, and very budget friendly. Resistance bands are so versatile and can be used to target multiple regions of your body such as arms, legs, and back.
They can easily be tucked away in a drawer, and can provide a muscular strength and endurance challenge whenever you are ready.
9. Elliptical bike
An elliptical bike, also known as an elliptical trainer or cross trainer, is a hybrid exercise machine that combines the motion of an elliptical trainer with the design of a stationary bicycle.
It’s another quiet and compact exercise equipment that can be kept in the corner of the office until you need to get your blood flowing a bit more.
10. Balance board
Balance boards are a fun way to challenge your balance and stability.
Of course, these have to be used with caution: on a non-slip surface. Setting up near a wall or a sturdy desk provides an additional safety net, allowing you to grab on if you find yourself losing balance.
11. Upright bike
As another common cardio exercise equipment that’s easy to move and store, upright bikes definitely made the cut.
Whether you’re aiming to boost your heart rate, burn calories, or simply add a dose of movement to your workday, the upright bike delivers.
12. Hand grip strengtheners
When it comes to desk exercise equipment, hand grip strengtheners often fly under the radar.
These tools are designed to improve grip strength and forearm muscles, which is often neglected during traditional workouts so why not work on it now.
Simply keep one tucked away in your desk drawer, and whenever you need a quick workout break, squeeze away.
General Office Gym Equipment
13. Ankle weights
These wearable weights offer a convenient way to add resistance to lower and upper body exercises. They are a great way to add resistance to pilates-based workouts too.
14. Elliptical
An elliptical machine provides a low-impact cardiovascular workout by simulating movements like walking, running, and climbing stairs. It’s great for improving cardiovascular health, and serves as an awesome addition to any gym.
15. Stair climber
Stair climbers are slowly making their mark in gym setups.
It is designed to simulate the action of climbing stairs. It typically consists of two foot pedals that move up and down in a stair-like motion, along with handlebars for stability and support. Stair climbers are equipped with adjustable resistance settings to vary the intensity of the workout.
If you’ve ever tackled a flight of stairs, you know firsthand the intensity and effectiveness that a stair climber can provide.
16. Punching bag
Beyond the physical benefits of improving cardiovascular health and toning muscles, incorporating a punching bag into the office gym can serve as an direct outlet to release stress and tension!
17. Row machine
A rowing machine, also known as a rower, provides a full-body cardiovascular workout by simulating the action of rowing a boat. It gets the blood pumping while also challenging muscular endurance in the arms, shoulders, back, and legs.
18. Kettlebells
Generally used for strength and conditioning workouts, kettlebells are another versatile add to the gym.
19. Barbells
These classic tools are the cornerstone of any many strength workout regimen, offering endless possibilities for building muscle.
Whether it’s squats for the lower body, bench presses for the chest, or rows for the back, barbells can effectively target and strengthen muscles from head to toe.
20. Leg press
Who doesn’t love a good leg press?
This staple of gym equipment is renowned for its ability to target quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. It’s an essential addition to your office gym.
21. Cable machine/ multifunctional trainer
Cable machines are commonly found in commercial gyms and fitness centers because of their versatility.
These machines typically feature pulleys and cable handles that can be adjusted to various heights and positions, providing resistance from different angles to accommodate a variety of exercises. Some common exercises that can be performed on a cable machine include chest presses, rows, lat pulldowns, tricep pushdowns, bicep curls, shoulder exercises, and leg exercises like cable squats and cable lunges.
22. Ab roller
An ab roller is a small fitness device with handles on either side and a wheel in the center, used for strengthening the abdominal muscles through rolling movements, helping to improve core strength and stability.
23. Leg extension machine
Leg extension machines are commonly found in commercial gyms. They are great for isolating and strengthening the quads.
24. Seated leg curl machine
The leg curl machine, much like the leg extension machine, isolates specific muscle groups for targeted strengthening. In particular, it’s highly effective for working the hamstring muscles, making it a valuable addition to office gyms.
25. Captain’s chair
The Captain’s Chair, also known as the Roman Chair or Knee Raise Station, is one of the most common tools for ab workouts. Which makes sense because it allows a platform for effective abs exercises, such as knee raises, leg lifts, and oblique twists.
26. Outer and inner thigh machine
This machine is also known as the adductor/abductor machine. By adjusting the settings and positioning yourself correctly, you can isolate these muscles and perform exercises that effectively strengthen your inner and outer thigh muscles.
27. Back extension machine
Back extension – as suggested by the name, is great for targeting the muscles of the lower back through controlled back extension movements.
28. Squat Rack
Squat rack is similar to the smith machine but without the fixed barbell. So, it allows for more natural movement patterns and engaging additional stabilizing muscles. Beginner weight lifters may initially feel more comfortable with a smith machine since the barbell is fixed along a vertical track.
29. Chest press machine
The chest press, a staple in any gym setting, is a powerhouse exercise for building chest and upper body muscles.
30. Smith machine
A Smith machine is a piece of equipment with a guided barbell that moves along a fixed vertical track, allowing for controlled strength training exercises such as squats, bench presses, and lunges with added stability and safety features. It provides a versatile and effective way to target multiple muscle groups in the upper and lower body.
Bottomline
Whether you’re outfitting your workspace with desk exercise equipment or setting up an office gym, the options are plentiful and diverse.
So, don’t assume you have to accept a sedentary lifestyle just because you have a desk job. Incorporating small amounts of movement throughout the day does add up, and you may even find that you have better productivity because of it.
