How to Choose an Exercise Bike

Physiotherapy is kind of new, or so I always thought. So I was surprised when the very nice man who tortured me in hospital told me that Hippocrates himself had used massage, manipulation and hydrotherapy to treat patients. Physical therapy it seems is as old as the science of medicine, dating back at least to 460 BC, and on the biggest problems physical therapists face is the varying degree’s of fitness in their patients. We all know that if you don’t use it, you loose it, but a degree of fitness is required just in order to take exercise. Not all therapies suit all patients, and while walking sounds nice and gentle, you can’t walk if you cant support your own weight, so something as fundamental as using your legs can be a problem. This is a common problem for anyone attempting serious weight loss. If you are already overweight you may find the exercise is as bad for you as the extra weight you carry, but you still need to exercise, so what do you do?
The answer to this problem has been around a long time. The exercise bicycle was first developed in 1796, when it was known as the Gymnasticon and was used primarily as a treatment for ‘gout and debility’. The inventor, Francis Lowndes, created the device specifically to help invalids, those who were physically incapable of powering the machine themselves, so there was an external crank which could be used to put their limbs through the necessary motion. It was something of a bonus when the device was used to provide exercise for the able bodied whose motivation wasn’t recovery from illness, but physical fitness.
Which brings us to the present day. An exercise bike is one of the most useful pieces of exercise equipment; it allows you to exercise without impact on your knees and ankles; keeps your legs mobile and your body out of the cold and the rain, so how do you choose?
You need a solid base that won’t tip over, and ideally allow you to stand if you want to. The bikes resistance should be adjustable so you can work at a speed you are comfortable with and the handlebars should be non slip. If you’ve ever been on an exercise bike you’ll know that one thing, more than anything else, makes the difference to your comfort, and that’s the seat. So when you choose an exercise bike look for one with as many adjustments as possible, especially in the seating area. Many bikes allow you to modify seat height, but the human body comes in all shapes and sizes, some exercise bikes, like the Stamina CPS 9200, allows you to change the seat position horizontally as well as vertically, so you can be sure of a perfect fit. The final thing to look for? Wheels.
You can find more information about the Stamina CPS 9200 exercise bike on our Better Health Innovations Site.