Stationary biking: A way to stay fit without damage to knees
Knee Problems?
If you have problems with your knees and find it difficult to walk for long distances, it’s possible you have a torn meniscus, the little rubbery discs that cushion your knees. There are two of these little cushions to each knee, one at the outer edge and one at the inner. It’s what stabilizes your knee, giving you the ability to walk without wobbling all over the place If you’ve ever planted your foot firmly on the ground and then turned your body, and felt a corresponding pain, you may have a torn meniscus. Depending on the severity of the tear and with a little care, it may go away in two or three weeks. Because of the pain it’s not something any of us want to repeat. Sometimes we even quit our walking program because of it. But there is a solution to your problem; a stationary bike.
Maybe you’ve found that treadmills and ellipticals aggravate the pain, so you’re reluctant to use them, even though you feel the need to exercise. Don’t be discouraged from doing what you need to do for your health, just do it differently. Studies show that riding a stationary bike puts less stress on the knee and meniscus as well as burning almost twice as many calories as walking. You can’t beat that benefit!
Amazon offers several styles and brands of these bikes; upright, recumbent, and folding. Be sure when shopping for a stationary ride to check what the suggested maximum weight limit is before buying. I’ve found some of these accept weight up to 300 pounds, but if it’s an issue for you, be sure to check the manufacturer’s suggested weight limit. Some, like the Schwinn models shown, have no weight limit mentioned.
For best results, always adjust the bike so that the top of the seat is in line with your hipbone. When you pedal there should be a slight bend to the knee, the leg shouldn’t be totally straight. This gives the best results for anyone experiencing knee problems.
Amazon ships these bikes to you unassembled, or for an extra charge shown on each item, they will assemble it before shipping.
Sunny Health & Fitness Pro Indoor Cycling Bike
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
Schwinn A10 Upright Bike
Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike
I was so surprised that biking was better for my knees than a treadmill. But it makes sense because when we’re on the treadmill walking or running we’re putting a lot of pressure on our knees (full body weight) – I started biking outdoors and now have a stationary bike inside and my knees do not bother me when I bike – really, it still surprises me how much better biking is compared to the pain I was having from a treadmill. I look forward to the exercise now, knowing I won’t feel pain!
Wow, Barbara, that’s a great testimonial to biking. My partner was also surprised that this is better than walking. I know you enjoy biking, so it’s a win/win for you. Thanks for the visit!