Recumbent Fitness Bike - Why It Can Be better Than An Upright For Some
Robin OBrien
June 10, 2010
Why is the recumbent fitness bike becoming so popular these days? It used to be that an exercise bike was an exercise bike, without much variation. Today, this is not true thanks to the recumbent and semi-recumbent bike frames that are now widely available. So, what exactly is it that is making them so popular with a wide variety of people?
The original use of the recumbent exercise fitness bike was for rehabilitation. Since the legs are positioned out in front of the body and the seat includes a back support, it offers a gentler form of exercise for those recovering from an injury or a serious medical procedure, such as open heart surgery.
The leg position and back support make the recumbent bike an extremely low impact form of cardiovascular exercise. It can help strengthen the heart as well as the lower body muscles without putting the strain on joints and ligaments that an upright bike presents.
Now that recumbent fitness bikes are widely available through all department stores, fitness stores, and hundreds of online retailers, more people have discovered that sitting in this position is a lot more comfortable than sitting upright without any back support.
In fact, many people who previously thought they would never purchase an exercise bike are now finding themselves with a recumbent bike sitting in their home.
Some of the groups that find fitness recumbent bikes preferable are the elderly as well as anyone with physical handicaps, injuries, or trouble balancing without a full seat back. Also, there are fully capable, healthy individuals who prefer the recumbent just for the sake of safety and comfort.
For those who believe a full recumbent bike eliminates too much of the challenge that an upright offers, the semi-recumbent is quickly picking up popularity. These bikes are more upright than a full recumbent yet still position the feet out in front of the body. The result is a good amount of pressure that will work the lower body a little more without going completely upright. It still has the full back rest on the seat as well.
While some people will still benefit from using an upright bike for the extra work it gives the muscles, others are crediting the recumbent fitness bike for giving them their health back. Many people who otherwise would not be able to safely workout at home are now using these bikes to keep in shape or to rehabilitate their muscles and even their heart.
Follow the link for recumbent exercise bikes and also read the best exercise bike reviews on leading brands like Kettler, Fitnex and Schwinn exercise bikes.
The original use of the recumbent exercise fitness bike was for rehabilitation. Since the legs are positioned out in front of the body and the seat includes a back support, it offers a gentler form of exercise for those recovering from an injury or a serious medical procedure, such as open heart surgery.
The leg position and back support make the recumbent bike an extremely low impact form of cardiovascular exercise. It can help strengthen the heart as well as the lower body muscles without putting the strain on joints and ligaments that an upright bike presents.
Now that recumbent fitness bikes are widely available through all department stores, fitness stores, and hundreds of online retailers, more people have discovered that sitting in this position is a lot more comfortable than sitting upright without any back support.
In fact, many people who previously thought they would never purchase an exercise bike are now finding themselves with a recumbent bike sitting in their home.
Some of the groups that find fitness recumbent bikes preferable are the elderly as well as anyone with physical handicaps, injuries, or trouble balancing without a full seat back. Also, there are fully capable, healthy individuals who prefer the recumbent just for the sake of safety and comfort.
For those who believe a full recumbent bike eliminates too much of the challenge that an upright offers, the semi-recumbent is quickly picking up popularity. These bikes are more upright than a full recumbent yet still position the feet out in front of the body. The result is a good amount of pressure that will work the lower body a little more without going completely upright. It still has the full back rest on the seat as well.
While some people will still benefit from using an upright bike for the extra work it gives the muscles, others are crediting the recumbent fitness bike for giving them their health back. Many people who otherwise would not be able to safely workout at home are now using these bikes to keep in shape or to rehabilitate their muscles and even their heart.
Follow the link for recumbent exercise bikes and also read the best exercise bike reviews on leading brands like Kettler, Fitnex and Schwinn exercise bikes.
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