Upright and Recumbent Exercise Bikes
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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.
