Upright and Recumbent Exercise Bikes
The recumbent bike is different from the upright
in tems of body positioning. Instead of sitting straight up,
as you do on a real bicycle, you're sitting back, with your
legs out in front of you instead of beneath you.
When I start working with someone to rehab from knee or back
surgery or treatment, I usually choose the recumbent bike as
a warm-up activity for several reasons:
- Its low position makes it easy to get on and off.
- It has back support, so it's more comfortable for people
with back problems, people who are very overweight and pregnant
women.
- It's extremely customizable - you can move the seat forward
to fit it to your body.
- Without resistance, it's extremely easy and allows for
joint movement without strain.
- They are very effective at improving blood circulation.
This bike isn't just for the injured, though! If you get a
good speed going and give it some resistance, you can get a
great cardio workout. Not only does it tone your legs, but every
time you push the pedal away from your body, it's like using
a leg press and you'll really work your glutes (buttocks).
The higher end recumbent bikes come with programs that allow
you to simulate hills and valleys, which is a great way to throw interval training into your workout.
If you really want to burn a lot of fat on a stationary bike,
I recommend that you find one with these programs.
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