Recumbent bikes are stationary exercise bikes found in fitness clubs and home gyms around the world. Recumbent bikes have a reclining seat that sometimes raises a question as to whether a workout on the recumbent bike produces fitness or health benefits. According to the Fitness News Magazine website, recumbent bikes provide a good workout and have several advantages over other exercise bikes or cardio machines.
Cardio Fitness
The design of recumbent bikes forces you to pedal using your legs without the ability to stand. This forces the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to increase output to supply oxygen to the working muscles. By increasing cardiac output and sustaining the increased heart rate for 20 to 45 minutes, your body burns calories and excess body fat. If you use the recumbent bike for about 45 minutes, you will burn about 374 calories.
Muscles
Along with improved cardiovascular efficiency, recumbent bikes are a low-impact workout that reduces the pressure on your knees and other joints. The low-impact pedaling motion promotes lean muscle tissue development by recruiting nearly every major muscle group in the lower body as well as the core muscles. These muscle groups include the hamstrings and quadriceps found on the thigh responsible for flexing and extending the knee while pedaling. Other muscle groups include the gluteal muscles responsible for hip movement, and the calf muscles responsible for ankle and heel function.
Safety
With a reclined, padded seat, recumbent bikes have several safety benefits over upright bikes or other cardio equipment. The seated position promotes efficient blood flow throughout the body while the seat provides safe back support. Recumbent bikes are beneficial if you have a lower body injury or are recovering from a surgery. The low center of mass and sturdy frame provide a stable riding device to reduce the potential for falling.
Features
Most recumbent bikes come with standard features to track your workout performance. These features also ensure you maintain a specific intensity level to maximize the workout results. A central LCD control console displays workout data such as speed, pace, revolutions per minute, calories burned and resistance level. For example, you can adjust the resistance and watch your speed and revolutions per minute to maintain a high intensity level for the duration of the workout. By doing so, recumbent bikes work to improve cardiovascular fitness along with building lean muscle tissue.
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