14 'Desk Fitness' Items That You Can Use While You Work

You can improve hand strength by using a grip strengthener at your desk. This set also comes with a finger stretchers and weights (which helps strengthen the fingers, hands and wrists) and a stress ball.

Promising review: “I’ve been using this kit for a couple of weeks now and I’m already seeing an improvement in my grip while climbing. Great value for so many different strengthening exercises.” — lindach

Get your 10,000 steps in while working at your desk by using a walking pad. This is one of the most popular ones on Amazon. More than 4,800 people have given it a 5-star rating. It has triple shock absorption to be gentle on your joints.

Promising review: "This is a great little walking machine. Very easy to use and doesnt take up much space. Excellent value for the money. Ive used it routinely now for a year with no issues and my husband uses it periodically." — marsc

While the primary purpose of this small machine is to tone your thighs, you can use it to tone your arms too. Use it for just 15 minutes at your desk a day and you’ll feel your body become stronger.

Promising review: "This Kegel exerciser with resistance band came with clear instructions and helpful pictures, making it very easy to understand and use correctly. The resistance feels well-made and adjustable, and the set is very beginner-friendly. A great option if you want clear guidance instead of guessing." — Makaya

We've sung the praises of ProStretch's offerings before. Their CoreStretch is also hugely popular among the brand's loyal customers. This device focuses on the core to stretch your back, hips, hamstrings and more. It's also lightweight and adjustable, making it easy to take with you to the office or elsewhere.

Promising review: "CoreStretch is really good for getting a good hamstring and lower back stretch. Pulling you OVER your legs, CoreStretch does not let you "hunch" when used properly. I started using this for a small pre-run stretch and a longer post-run stretch...and in the last 2 months of using it, I've felt improvements in the tightness in my lower back. Different poses will deepen the stretch for different areas...all in all...i give it two thumbs up and a tool I would recommend if you are like me and hunch for hammie stretches or are lazy about stretching." — K.Wynn

If a walking pad or treadmill takes up too much space or you find it hard to work unless you’re sitting down, an under-the-desk pedal exerciser is a great option. It’s small enough that you can even bring it into the office if you don’t work at home. This one folds up, making stashing it away after work hours easy.

Promising review: “I like that I can sit in a comfortable chair to protect my broken tailbone and back while exercising my legs; I sit at the kitchen table to exercise my arms! Oh yea! It has carry straps, so you can carry it wherever you need when traveling and it folds away easily; this model is not bulky and got approval from my mother’s physical therapist she has been seeing for cardiac rehab at home. I applaud myself on this purchase for my mother’s rehabilitation.” — Joint Freedom

Strength train during virtual calls by lifting a pair of dumbbells while at your desk. This pair can be adjusted to weigh between two to five pounds per dumbbell.

Promising review: “These weights are amazing. Very sturdy, easy to use, easy to add or remove additional weight. The option of simply snapping on additional weight without having to buy another set of weights is a game changer. I hate having all of these weights I no longer use just lying around the house collecting dust. Adding additional weights takes less than five minutes and just snaps on. Very simple to understand and they do not fall off during a workout. Great buy....affordable price. Super impressed with this product and will recommend it to my gym friends.” — Kristie Hyde

If your neck and shoulders ache at the end of the workday, spending a few minutes using this resistance band while you work can help minimize that pain. Use it to open up your shoulders without even leaving your desk. There are tons of other ways to use it too, such as for building arm and leg strength.

Promising review: “This resistance band works really well and is very easy to use. The figure-8 shape makes it comfortable to hold, and the textured handles help with grip. I’ve been using it for shoulder and back stretches, and it gives a nice amount of resistance.
It’s lightweight and easy to carry, so it’s great for quick workouts at home or even when traveling. For the price, it’s a really useful little exercise tool. Definitely happy with this purchase." — QQ

Prefer cycling to walking? With this desk, you can cycle while you work. The desk is big enough to fit a laptop and notebook on it and there are eight different speed and resistance levels. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the total calories burned and distance covered adds up!

Promising review: “Surprised with the quality and functions of this bike. I am satisfied for several reasons. First, delivery is really fast; it only took two days to come to my door. Second, it is super easy to install. Third, the eight-level magnetic resistance is easy to adjust. Fourth, I can finally work while working out. Two thumbs up.” — Feng You Xun

Remember when oversized rubber balls were the must-have desk seating of choice for trendy work places? This chair is the updated, way more comfortable version of that. The active seating forces you to maintain proper posture and engage your abs while you sit.

Promising review: “I used to have constant low back pain using my office chair. Since I started using the wobble stool my back pain is gone. It helps keep the weight off my low back to eliminate back pain. I also like the fact that I can move my body while sitting. I would highly recommend it." — msho

Get bored easily? Switch up your fitness game by pulling an exercise card from this deck each day so you’ll continuously have new ways to move your body. A mix of exercises and stretches, your body will feel so good after completing the move.

Promising review: “Ever heard the term movement snack? I have a demanding desk job and find myself working hunched over my computer for multiple hours at a time for up to 14 hours a day. I was getting very achy and sore and stiff all over. I decided to try these out, and I have already started to feel less tight and achy. I keep the deck on my desk to remind myself to take breaks. The prompts and illustrations are easy to follow. I feel invigorated after taking a quick break and ready to get back to the grind!” — Jen

Those who use a standing desk already have a leg up, so to speak, on having a more active workday. Want to level up even more? Instead of placing your two feet on the floor, balance on a wobbly board, like this one. It forces you to engage your core; otherwise, you’ll fall off.

Promising review: “This is a fantastic balance board! You might be tempted to try another brand or even that ‘as seen on tv’ board. The fact this board has a flat surface and that surface's large standing space make this board superb. I work eight to 10 hours a day and bought a converting standing desk last year. With that, I'd stand for one to three hours a day.... with the board I'm standing for two to five hours. It's more comfortable throughout the day than the regular floor. The ability to shift weight, stretch calves, do toe raises, etc., make standing fun.

The deck is super solid with a fantastic grip on the standing area. The underside of the deck has soft rubber pieces in the uppermost corners. This is helpful to keep the deck from sliding out from under you if you lose balance... when tilted to the extreme, the rubber makes contact with the floor. This also helps keep the deck in place if you are intentionally rocking it (toe raises for example). They have a 30 day money back guarantee... but you'll never have to use it.” — Mark Gilbertson

Spending a few minutes at the end of the work day foam rolling is a way to reward your body for the toll sitting at a desk all day can take. More than 109,000 people have purchased and rated this one, giving it a collective 4.6 out of five stars.

Promising review: “I recently purchased the Amazon Basics High-Density Round Foam Roller, and I couldn't be more pleased with its performance. This foam roller is a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their fitness routine or alleviate muscle soreness. The high-density foam material provides just the right amount of firmness to effectively target and massage tight muscles. Whether I'm using it for my back, legs, or shoulders, the roller offers consistent pressure and support, helping me achieve a deep tissue massage experience. What sets this foam roller apart is its durability.

Despite frequent use, it has maintained its shape and resilience, showing no signs of wear and tear. The compact size makes it convenient to store and travel with, allowing me to enjoy its benefits wherever I go. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a casual fitness enthusiast, this foam roller is an affordable and reliable option that delivers results. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve their flexibility, mobility, and overall well-being.” — Slitton

It’s so easy to round your shoulders forward while sitting at your desk; you may even be doing it right now without even realizing it! This posture corrector softly vibrates when you move out of optimal alignment. That way, you’re aware of it and can straighten yourself out — literally.

Promising review: “I love this little item. After applying it, I can check my posture continuously. It seems to be overpriced, but the function of this item and accompanying app are working well without any problem. I would like to buy one more item for my kids.” — Joo

If you already have a treadmill, you can convert it into a workstation with a laptop stand, like this one. It’s compatible with all treadmills and is adjustable so it will be the perfect height.

Promising review: “I love this thing. I've been using it for seven days. It's a bargain for what it allows me to do. I found it easy to assemble once I found all the parts in the box—it's clever how they packed it—and everything was there but at first, it was not clear to me where everything was. It's sturdy despite what many low-raters said. There is a very slight amount of wobble, but it's not bad at all with my 15" MacBook Pro. Also, I'm 6' 4" tall, so I worried it would be less stable because I need it relatively higher than most people but I found it plenty stable. Finally, it comes on and off really easily. Definitely recommend it!” — Troyble

“Our number one choice is usually resistance bands with handles,” DeRosa explained to HuffPost. “They are cost effective and come in varied resistance so people can use lighter or stronger bands if they feel the exercises [are] too easy or too hard."

DeRosa recommended this five-pack of bands to start off with.

“Routines with the bands can be used to build upper body strength and lower body strength and of course should never be painful when performing,” he said. “We always like to incorporate functional exercises, like sit to stand from a chair or bed and supported step ups as these are weight-bearing exercises that not only build strength but also help increase bone density [since] our bone density decreases as we age.”

"Adjustable ankle weights are great for doing upper and lower body exercises and allow you to increase or decrease resistance as needed," DeRosa explained.

DeRosa recommended this pair of ankle weights, which are each adjustable from one to five pounds. They also have adjustable straps to ensure a comfortable fit. They're available in multiple colors and with higher weight offerings.