Spinal stenosis occurs when your spine narrows and compresses the nerves. The condition usually happens in the neck or lower back. Symptoms of spinal stenosis can include numbness or pain in your back, neck, shoulders, arms or legs. When the compressions take place in your neck, you may not experience any symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise and stress-reducing medication often can relieve symptoms. Surgery may be required if the pain is disabling and home remedies haven't helped.
Basics
A recumbent exercise bicycle provides a low-impact aerobic exercise that also can improve your core and leg muscles to add further support to your weakened back. A recumbent bike is designed for pedaling with your feet extended forward, taking even more pressure off your back. The seat typically is wider than those found on upright exercise bikes and comes with a backrest to provide additional support. Resistance on recumbent bikes can be modified to provide cardiovascular workouts or to strengthen muscles. Many bikes come equipped with monitors to track miles ridden and the number of calories you burned.
Considerations
You should check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine, especially one that will place any pressure on your spinal cord. While a recumbent bike provides the least amount of stress on your back, spinal stenosis can occur in many areas on the spine and you need to have medical clearance before attempting an exercise to mitigate your symptoms. Additionally, a doctor can monitor your heart rate if you use a model with a built-in heart rate monitor to make sure the exercise doesn't add additional stress to your body or cause you to exceed maximum heart rate targets.
Safety
A recumbent bike is a safe exercise alternative because the seat is low to the ground and can prevent further injuries to your back if you lose your balance during the workout. The Mayo Clinic reports that it is critical to your recovery that you not incur further injuries to your spine. Carrying around excess weight also is dangerous if you have spinal stenosis. Rigorous aerobic exercise on an exercise bike can help you to shed pounds. If at any time you feel pain in your back while riding your bike, you should stop and consult your doctor before resuming cycling.
Option
Once you feel comfortable on a stationary recumbent bike, perhaps after a few months at the gym, you may consider buying your own bike for home use. Recumbent bikes can fit neatly in a corner in front of a television or alongside a treadmill used by another family member. Additionally, you can find recumbent bikes for road use. The bikes allow you to pedal in the same seated position with your legs outstretched in front of you. According to Arthritis Today, you should test-ride any type of recumbent bike before buying it to make sure it is comfortable and that you can safely operate all the features.
