We all know about the advantages of exercise. It regulates blood flow, enhances productivity and reduces the risk of life threatening diseases. It also releases endorphins that help you feel better on an emotional level. Regardless of all these benefits, many people choose not to engage in the act. This is mainly due to the physical exertion that it requires and the pain or strain that come along with traditional exercise machines.
For many years, exercise equipment makers have tried to come up with alternatives that help eradicate these issues. A popular alternative that has resulted from this venture is a recumbent bike. Recumbent bikes have completely revolutionized fitness and working out. These machines are light on the joints, easy to use and a very convenient way to lose weight.
Over a stationary exercise bike, the benefits of a recumbent bike are evident. In fact, did you know that recumbent bikes can help you target specific muscles better than a stationary bike can? Want to find out what muscles does a recumbent bike work? Read our guide to find out!
Benefits of a Recumbent Bike
Unlike stationary bikes, a recumbent bike has an advanced layout which requires its users to lay back and peddle instead of grabbing handles and peddling. This not only leads to an easier workout but gives users the advantage of reading a book or scrolling through social media while they’re at it. Like a stationary bike the resistance and speeds can be adjusted accordingly to match the regime that you’ve planned out. Overall making a recumbent bike a more convenient option to use.
Furthermore, the number of reported injuries is also low with this innovative machine. According to consumer reports, there are less complaints of strain or muscle soreness with recumbent bikes than stationary ones. Moreover, recumbent bikes are also a perfect option for people who are physically disabled but are required to exercise.
This is because the large seat and lowered position of the bike allow for a lowered center of gravity which ultimately allows users to sustain better balance on the bike. This is perfect for people with spinal cord problems or knee joint issues. For this reason, you can also find recumbent exercise bikes in physical therapy labs.
Effectiveness of Workout
Since working out on a machine is much more comfortable, a recumbent bike allows people to go for a longer duration of exercise. Thus the net calorie loss from the workout is increased. Moreover, an easy workout means a much more enjoyable workout therefore exercising on a recumbent bike allows for an increased sense of motivation which helps individuals attain their fitness goals faster. Another advantage worth mentioning is that recumbent bikes target particularly tough muscle groups hence the effectiveness of a workout on these bikes is enhanced.
Read: Best Recumbent Exercise Bike for Over 300 lbs
What Muscles does a Recumbent Bike Work?
Scientifically, no exercise or workout regime can help you target specific muscle groups. However, a combination of diet and proper exercise techniques can enhance overall fat reduction which can make muscles look more prominent. A recumbent exercise can help you target all major muscle groups. This includes the thighs (hamstrings and quadriceps), legs (tibialis anterior and posterior), hips (gluteus maximus and obturator extraneous) and abdomen (obliques and rectus abdominis).
Overall, not only do recumbent bikes target certain muscle groups but they also help avoid the strain that collects on buttocks or thighs. Furthermore, recumbent bikes can also help you lose overall body weight which leads to a slimmer waistline for those looking to reduce those pesky love handles. It also helps lower the blood pressure and reduce hormones that cause stress on the heart. In general it lowers the heart rate by enhancing the ability of your muscles to take up oxygen.
You should note that recumbent exercise bikes do not target the back muscles and nor do they target the arms. Therefore, if you’re someone who wants to tone biceps, triceps or other upper body muscles, a stationary bike is a much better option for you.
Should you invest into a recumbent bike?
If you’re someone that has physical disabilities or are just starting to work out. A recumbent bike can be highly beneficial since its added features of large seats and backrests can help accommodate your body weight more efficiently. For people that are of larger body masses a recumbent bike can be a good way to start out, and to transition into other workout options.
Riding a recumbent bike for a set time can also help you lose more calories than other forms of exercise. For example, walking burns about 120 calories per mile but a recumbent bike can help you burn 200 calories, almost twice the calories. Therefore, if you’re someone who does long hours of office work or are someone who has strict time constraints this is the best buy for you. Moreover, with the awareness of the importance of fitness, older people tend to want to pursue exercising habits too. Thus if you too are an elderly person you should invest in a recumbent bike as a tool like this will allow you to exercise easily and painlessly.
However, if you’re someone that has a tight budget or has an apartment that doesn’t have a lot of free space. Then recumbent bikes may not be the best option for you. This is because its added safety features account for a high price and layout takes up a considerable amount of surface area as compared to a standard stationary bike. Also, people that enjoy a hefty workout that causes one to “sweat buckets” should not invest in recumbent bikes as they are catered to comfort so they reduce the adrenaline rush that you could otherwise get out of it.
Read: Best Recumbent Exercise Bike for Short Person
Final Thoughts
Whether one should buy a recumbent bike or not is completely based on an individual’s preference. There is no set right or wrong answer to this. While the benefits of this exercise tool are innumerable particularly when thinking about what muscles does a recumbent bike work? it has significant concerns of its own. However, we highly recommend it for people that want to maximize safety and improve their fitness. Whatever bike you purchase, ensure it is well built and fits within your needs list.,
