Your mind says 30, but your joints say 90, judging by how your body creaks and aches every time you move. It’s the reason why you can’t exercise. But what if you found a loophole that could help you keep fit without harming your joints?
A recumbent exercise bike is an answer to all your prayers. The bike’s design makes movement easier than a standard stationary bike because you don’t stand up when you cycle; you recline. That design feature makes it more comfortable to use, and it’s challenging enough that it meets your fitness goals.
This article will highlight all the possible ways a Recumbent exercise bike benefits your health and fitness.
1. What Can a Recumbent Exercise Bike Do For You?
Whether you’re a first-time biker or an experienced fitness lover, the recumbent exercise bicycle fits all your workout goals.
Unlike an upright stationary bicycle that makes you keep your back straight and your joints in full mobility, a recumbent bike puts less pressure on your joints than most cardio equipment.
What is the Structure of a Recumbent Exercise Bike?
In the picture below, you see two types of exercise bike, recumbent and upright.
Taking the visual differences into account, here are the structural changes between the two:
i) Upright Bikes:
- Upright position
- Pedals are positioned under the body in a standing stance
- Seat is smaller
- Limited support for the upper body
- More consistent in experience with outdoor biking
- Workout for the body and cardiovascular
ii) Recumbent Bikes:
- Reclined position
- Pedals are placed in front of the body
- The seat is larger to accommodate a seated position
- Full comfortable support for the body
- Reduced fatigue for the upper body and muscles
- Workout for the lower body and cardiovascular
The structure of a recumbent bike is the best feature for riders who experience pain in their coccyx and lower body. The stationary upright bicycle system puts pressure on the rider’s joints because when you stand on the pedals, you undertake a sort of climbing motion that pushes you to work through the exercise.
We recently reviewed the Best Five Recumbent Exercise Bikes from where you can choose one that suits best to your need.
But with a reclined system of a recumbent bike, the positioning takes out that pressured aspect completely. You sit back and let your core power through the biking motion. As a result, you experience a more thorough workout because the intensity doesn’t tire out your muscles and joints.
2. How Does a Recumbent Exercise Bike Benefits Me?
While using a recumbent bike looks simple, this machine can wring out plenty of calories and sweat from you if you crank up that resistance. The only goal here is to exercise while knowing your limits.
A recumbent bike is the most helpful tool for:
- People who are recovering from injuries or currently experiencing one
- Seniors who want to exercise
- People with neurological conditions
- New exercisers
- People who experience rheumatoid arthritis
- People can also get benefits of stationary exercise bikes for bad knees
But, even if you are one of those mentioned above, the recumbent exercise machine can still make your workout fulfilling enough without causing any problems. Here are some ways this bike keeps you happy and fit:
i) It’s Easier to Cycle:
There’s also something known as saddle soreness that you may already have experienced. Unlike a stationary bike saddle that hurts your perineum or sitting bones, the recumbent bike offers a much more cushier seat and support for the lower back, so you don’t force your body to be in a difficult position.
You also don’t get any rashes from being seated on a bad saddle for minutes at a time. Not to mention that this seating prevents any back pain after you’ve been crouched down and “in the zone” for 20 minutes, cycling away!
In recumbent exercise bike benefits, this stood at number one because it is easier to cycle and brings the convenience of time with it when you have one at your home gym.
ii) It Supports Your Lower Joints:
Speaking of back pain, the recumbent bike does more than make your posture comfortable. Biking for minutes at a time, especially in only a saddle seat, can be terrible for your lumbar spine. But with a bucket seat, those struggling with keeping their body position straight get the chance to cycle without letting the movement affect their spine.
There’s no hunching, no push and pull as you cycle, and no injury scare. As a result, when you exercise, you’re able to do so for longer while maintaining the right speed and exerting just enough energy, so you don’t feel exhausted.
iii) It Supports Your Joints:
For anyone who has suffered from joint pain, exercising on a cycle only exacerbates the injuries. Instead of strengthening them, the consistent movement ends up weakening them. The recumbent bike is a lot kinder, though. Because of the reclined seated position, your joints don’t feel as much tension.
You still exert enough energy. But instead of using your joints to workout, your use your core strength to go through the motion. Besides that, the seat’s position in the bike allows the pedals to move higher. Unlike the stationary bicycle, the recumbent bike gives your ankles and knees as well as hip flexors some rest.
Using a stationary bike or biking, in general, can sometimes cause wear-and-tear in your cartilage if you put too much pressure on your joints. But, with the proper support, more comfort, and less impact, cycling becomes enjoyable, and your joints remain healthy
iv) It Supports All the Right Muscle Groups:
A recumbent bike may be easy, but it’s not something you should take lightly. Those who love a serious workout favor the recumbent exercise bicycle over other machinery because it offers better resistance options, and they get to exercise without worrying about their body.
So, if you want to work out all your muscle groups, a recumbent bike should be your best choice. This type of exercise helps in not only building strength but also muscle mass. All the while, you lose weight and burn fat, and gain healthy muscle in return.
A recumbent bike workout will work out your quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and glutes.
v) It Improves Your Balance:
Unfortunately, not all of us are gifted when it comes to balance. If you can’t let go of the handlebars from fear that you’ll lose your balance while cycling, then a recumbent bike will solve your problem.
Because of the seating option, a recumbent bike offers better stability, helps build your confidence, improves your posture, and targets your muscles evenly. You remain stable while you exercise and safer. There’s no risk of falling, so you don’t get to worry about spraining your ankle or losing your grip while working out.
So, the Recumbent exercise bike benefits you to stay firm on machine as well as in your practical life.
Final Thoughts
A recumbent bike makes cycling an easier and better experience. So, why not try it? Go to the gym or look for a recumbent bike online if you’re planning to improve your at-home gym. We also compare Recumbent Bike vs Treadmill to know which provides the most pleasing experience in which recumbent bike really surprised us.
Remember, if you want to upgrade your workout, a recumbent bike is the only piece of workout equipment that’ll give you a positive experience, all while improving your body and aiding your fitness goals.