What’s a recumbent cross trainer?

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A recumbent cross trainer is a piece of fitness equipment that is similar to both a stationary bike and an elliptical. Although the word reclined often refers to a fully prone position, this equipment generally requires an upright or slightly relaxed sitting position. A recumbent cross trainer typically requires one to cycle the legs while also pumping the arms back and forth to engage as many muscle groups as possible simultaneously. Various programs, controls, and resistance levels help an individual tailor a workout on the cross trainer to her specific needs. This low-impact piece of equipment should be safe for most people.

There has been some concern that people who feel they need the benefits of exercise equipment the most, both the elderly and the obese, may not be able to use many modern types of cardio equipment. Treadmills and bicycles can cause too much impact and strain on a body, weak or strong, and lead to injury. A recumbent cross trainer is a type of exercise equipment that strives to lessen the impact on joints and muscles.

Cross training simply refers to the different types of conditioning exercises one can do to improve overall body strength. Most cross trainers focus on strengthening the leg and arm muscles. These muscle groups can be worked simultaneously or one at a time.

To work your legs, you must first sit on the machine and adjust the settings as needed. Then you can place your feet on the pedals and cycle your legs like a bicycle. Low-impact machines typically use a weighted flywheel to produce smooth, continuous motion.

Sometimes a recumbent cross trainer will also have two handles for your hands to grasp. As the legs change, the handles move back and forth in time. It is up to the individual user if they want to incorporate this upper body workout or not. One could even choose to focus on the arms instead of the legs simply by relying more on the arms than the legs to move the wheel. Using both your lower and upper body equally could provide a full body workout in one session.

Many models of the recumbent bike come with pre-programmed workouts that simulate riding across different types of terrain, such as hills. Usually, the individual can choose a specific program or control the resistance level manually during a workout. Recumbent cross trainers are marketed to everyone, regardless of fitness level, due to the many ways a workout can be tailored. This equipment can be purchased through different manufacturers. Although this product is relatively new, some gyms are starting to use it.

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