A home exercise machine is convenient way to maintain or improve your fitness at home. Even if you want to lose weight or make improvements to your health, they are a great option. In recent years, a trip to gym has been impossible and this has seen a surge in interest in these machines. We consider two of the most popular choices are Rowing Machine vs Recumbent Bike but choosing the machine that meet your needs can be problematic.
One machine works the lower body and the other offers a complete body workout. In this brief guide, we will look at the rowing machine vs recumbent bike comparisons to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
The Rowing Machine Basics:
Rowing machines are a tried and tested technology and they have been around for a very long time. They offer a full body workout that helps the user to lose weight and improve their fitness in less time than many other exercise approaches. Indoor cycling can give you a great cardio workout and it is possible to lose weight using a stationary or recumbent exercise bike.
But rowing machines work 86% of the muscles in your body and this includes the shoulder, thigh, abdominal and backs muscles. When you have limited time to work out, it’s important to choose a machine that works efficiently. Reaching your fitness goals quickly can improve motivation which encourages you to work out regularly.
One of the common criticisms of rowing machines it that they can cause back pain. But this is caused by poor form and technique and the machine is not at fault. This can be a barrier to entry for some people because you need to put some effort into your rowing technique. This effort will pay dividends later because you can really boost the efficiency of your rowing workout.
How to Use a Rowing Machine
To use a rowing machine correctly, it’s important to set the desired resistance level before you get on the machine. Then you take your seat and place your feet on the foot pads. Before you begin rowing, bend your knees to the point when your butt is near the rear of your ankles. Once this angle is achieved, grasp the handles with an overhand grip.
Then bend forward and extend your arms, straighten your legs and press backwards. As you extend your knees, bend your elbows, pull the handle to your chest and keep your torso straight. Then extend your arms and bend your knees to the original starting position. Repeating this process throughout the duration of the workout will give you the proper rowing form that you need.
The Recumbent Bike Basics:
When looking at rower vs recumbent bike model options, you will notice that there is a larger choice of bikes even within the same brand. Recumbent exercise bikes are very popular because you can sit on them in the same way that you lounge in your favorite chair.
Many people cannot use a traditional stationary exercise bike without experiencing some pain. This makes a recumbent bike a natural choice for people recovering from injuries, obese people that need to lose a lot of weight and pregnant women that want a light workout.
A recumbent bike is a low-impact exercise machine that helps people to work out, even if they have osteoporosis, arthritis, or degenerative disc disease problems. The emphasis in on a lower body workout and the legs have the largest muscle groups in the human body. So, as you pedal you will experience efficient calorie burn, but people with knee problems may find the experience uncomfortable. One option is a semi-recumbent bike that gives the user a more sedate pedaling angle than an upright model.
How to Use a Recumbent Bike
The learning curve of a recumbent bike is shallow when compared to a rowing machine, but you still need proper form to get the most out of a workout. Start by sitting on the seat and placing your feet firmly on the pedals. Adjust the seat position forwards or backwards to the point where your knees are slightly short of full extension at the bottom of the pedal movement. Then select your favorite workout program and start pedaling.
Which is Best? Rowing Machine vs Recumbent Bike:
When you make a direct comparison between the rowing machine vs recumbent bike the main difference is clearly the muscles that are used. Let’s take a look at how the two types of machines and the muscle groups that they work:
Muscles used when using a Rowing Machine
During the rowing workout, several different muscle groups are worked simultaneously which is an extremely efficient use of the user’s time. The shin and calf muscles move the ankles, and the quadriceps and hamstrings straighten and bend the knees. The back and core muscles are constantly activated throughout the workout, and this stabilizes the torso.
The biceps bend the elbows as the back muscles and shoulders pull the arms back into position. The triceps will extend the arms to bring them back into the original start position. The hamstrings work with the glutes throughout the hip extension, and this happens at the same time!
Muscles used when using a Recumbent Bike
Riding a recumbent bike is more comfortable and the focus in on the movement of lower body muscle groups. The back is comfortably supported, but people with severe back problems may be more comfortable on a semi-recumbent model. The upper body is essentially on a vacation because the entire workout is powered by the legs.
The glutes and hamstrings get an effective workout on the downward pedal strokes and the quads get attention on the upward stroke. Many people compensate for the lack of an upper body workout with free weights.
Rowing Machine vs Recumbent Bike-The Similarities
As you can see, the rower vs recumbent bike comparison is difficult because they are very different approaches to a home exercise workout. But there are some similarities, they both improve cardiovascular fitness, they burn calories efficiently and they are low-impact. Anyone with injuries, joint issues and other minor health problems will get a great workout from both types of machines.
Conclusion–Rowing Machine vs Recumbent Bike
We hope that this rowing machine vs recumbent bike comparison has been informative. To summarize, it’s important to remember that an exercise bike will only work the lower body muscles. The rowing machine is the clear winner if you want a total body workout. If you’re interested in efficient calorie burning, you may want to consider a rowing machine. A 30-minute workout on a rowing machine will burn far more calories than cycling on a recumbent or stationary exercise bike. But, if you cannot move your body in a dynamic way due to arthritis, osteoporosis, injuries or limited mobility the recumbent bike is the better option.