Two of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment are the treadmill and the exercise bike. They’re found in fitness centers, rehabilitation clinics and home gyms. Treadmills and exercise bikes are used to develop and improve cardiovascular health and endurance; they are a great compliment to resistance training. When someone can’t run or bike outdoors, treadmills and exercise bikes are great for indoor activity.
What is a Treadmill?
A treadmill is an exercise machine used to walk and run in one place. The user walks along the conveyer belt track. There are handles and sidebars for safety. The speed of the treadmill can be controlled and on some models, the track can incline to mimic uphill running. Higher-end models also have sensors to monitor your heart rate, how many calories you burn and include preprogrammed workouts that adjust speed and incline automatically.
Treadmills and Rehab
As the saying goes, you must learn to walk before you can run. If you’re in rehabilitation after surgery or a stroke, treadmills are a staple in rehab protocols. They allow the patient to regain mobility in a safe, monitored environment. Some rehab protocols require retro walking, walking backwards, which targets muscles eccentrically. Athletic trainers and physical therapists also use treadmills for gait analysis to figure out the cause of foot, leg and lower-back problems. You may also use a treadmill if your exercise physiologist administers an exercise stress test.
Treadmills On Your Own
In the gym or at home, many people run on treadmills as a warm-up to resistance training or their entire cardio workout is done on the treadmill. Treadmills are easier on the joints than running outdoors on concrete pavement or on the track. Treadmills are relatively safe but it is still very important to pay attention while using one. It is possible to misstep, lose track of where you are on the track and slip off the back; or a mechanical glitch may cause a fall and injury.
What is an Exercise Bike?
Exercise bikes are also known as stationary bikes. They can be manual or computerized to change the resistance of the pedals for a harder workout and workout variety. You can convert an outdoor bike into a stationary bike by using a cycle trainer. Recumbent bikes are bikes that have a full chair, with back, and allow the rider to pedal in a reclined position.
Exercise Bikes and Rehab
Exercise bikes are a great way to improve range of motion of all the joints of the lower body. Even if you don’t know how to ride a bike, you can ride an exercise bike because the bike is locked into place. Exercise bikes don’t require the user have the same balance required to ride an outdoor bike. Patients with tendonitis, and knee or hip replacements can benefit from exercise bikes. For older patients, or patients who require support of their spine, they may be instructed to ride recumbent exercise bikes. Sports-training facilities and physical therapy clinics also utilize waterbikes.
Exercise Bikes at the Gym or at Home
Like the treadmill, there are exercise bike models made for use at home. Exercise bikes can provide a good nonweight bearing workout. Adjust your bike seat so there is a slight bend in your knee, about 30 degrees, at the bottom of a revolution.
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