Ever heard of a recumbent exercise bike? You’ve probably seen one. It is, quite simply, an indoor exercise bike that has been stretched into a lengthier design. You sit much like you would while riding in a car, with your legs stretched directly out in front of your body. This position takes a lot of the pressure off of the knees, hips, and legs.
The origin of the recumbent can be traced back to its use as a tool in physical therapy. It enabled individuals to exercise without exerting too much pressure on their joints. Today, it is still used a lot by people who are injured, recovering from surgery, or who have health problems which prevent them from balancing on top of an upright bike safely.
They are also used by people who are completely healthy but who want to incorporate their upper body for a complete workout. Since a recumbent exercise bike comes with a full sized seat with a supportive back, users can lift dumbbells or simply pump their arms at their sides as if walking while operating the bike. This includes a strengthening element and considerably boosts calorie burn.
While the positioning of the seat may sound like the recumbent bicycle offers a less demanding workout, this is not completely true. Recumbent style bikes come with all the features that make an upright bike so challenging. Depending on the exact brand and model you select, they will have a variety of preprogrammed workout options which take you through a variety of resistance levels and speeds to deliver a very challenging workout.
The ability to change the resistance is key for getting a good workout on these bikes. As long as you are willing to push yourself and make the most of your exercise time, you can get a great fat burning workout without putting any stress or strain on your body.
Today’s recumbent exercise bikes come with MP3 plug-ins, slots for workout discs designed by the world’s top fitness trainers, and magnetic brake systems which operate so quiet you can watch TV or talk to others with little to no interference from the bike.
Some of the best models include a step through design which eliminates the center bar you would have to climb over to mount an upright cycle. These allow you to step into the center of the bike and simply sit down, further eliminating any pressure on the body.
The bottom line: anyone who wants to take their physical fitness to the next level should consider adding a recumbent to their home gym.