There are many different types of cardiovascular training machines on the market today. Examples of these include treadmills, elliptical trainers, stair climbers, rowers and exercise bikes. One particular type of bike called a "recumbent bike" offers the user a different way to exercise than the conventional stationary bike.
Features
Recumbent bikes are similar to regular exercise bikes in the fact that they can give you a good cardiovascular workout and burn calories. But the way they are different is in their design. They have a backrest with an adjustable sliding seat, and they are used from a horizontal position with your legs out in front of your body. They have handgrips on the side of the seat and up on the console area.
Function
When you ride a stationary bike, you are in an upright position. This can put a lot of extra stress on your knees and lower back, especially when you are standing up while pedaling. Exercises on a recumbent bike allow you to pedal from a horizontal position which takes all the pressure off your back. This makes exercising on it a good choice for people who have lower back injuries or joint issues.
Benefits
There are specific benefits that come with recumbent bikes that regular bikes cannot offer. If you are just starting out exercising, recumbent bikes are easy to use. If you are obese, they are a lot easier to get on and off. Balance is not as much of an issue on recumbent bikes because you are in a reclined position. These are also more comfortable for the male anatomy since there's no pressure in the genital area.
Identification
When you exercise on a recumbent bike, you can place your hands on the handles, but it is not pivotal that you do. This gives you the ability to easily do exercise with your upper body while you are pedaling. You can use light weights and do curls, triceps extensions, lateral raises and shoulder presses. This will work your upper and lower body simultaneously, which can increase your caloric expenditure and recruit more muscle fibers.
Prevention/Solution
Oftentimes, while exercising on a stationary bike, you have a tendency to hunch forward over the handlebars. This can cause tight chest muscles and rounded shoulders, which is an upper-body postural distortion. When you are exercising on the recumbent bike, you can maintain an upright posture and prevent this from happening.
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