The Advantages of Using a Recumbent Stationary Bike

A recumbent stationary bike is an ingenius twist on the popular exercise bikes that we have all come to know. On a recumbent exercise bike the user sits low to the ground in a bucket seat basically with their butt and the pedals on the same level, parallel to the floor.

Recumbent bikes are becoming increasingly popular and have their fair share of advocates including personal trainers and medical professionals because they offer an excellent cardiovascular workout without placing an overdue amount of stress on the bones and joints of the user.

They can and are used by men and women of all ages and fitness levels and require no special skill. The seat on most models is adjusted easily making it ideal for people of all sizes to use. They also feature settings that can be adjusted as well to offer varying resistance levels.

For people that are overweight, they will find that a recumbant stationary bike is better suited for their bodies because of the large seat. Couple that along with the fact that it is very easy to get in and out of and you can see why these pieces of fitness equipment have become quite popular in homes and health clubs across the United States.

Some of the more advanced recumbent stationary bikes feature computerized programs that allow the user to choose not only different resistance levels, but also programs that simulate peddling on different topographies such as hills and mountains to offer truly challenging workouts.

In addition to the pedaling motion the user can also incorporate dumbbells and hand-weights to simultaneously give an upper body workout as they pedal. Because the seat is so large and stable it is possible to do such exercises as shoulder presses and bicep curls as part of an overall complete body workout.

A recumbent stationary bike is also easier on the back because there is no hunching over to get leverage like many people do on a traditional exercise bike. And unlike traditional exercise bikes, with a recumbent bike you can’t “cheat” by standing up when you pedal.

Other health benefits derived from using a recumbent exercise bike in addition to getting an excellent cardiovascular workout is improved circulation, bone density and of course, the muscles of the hips, legs and buttocks get a good workout.

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