Is Exercise Bike Good For Back Pain?
Walking is an excellent form of exercise that helps burn calories and improve cardiovascular health. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best form of exercise for your back.
Exercise bikes are becoming increasingly popular these days. They are often used at gym facilities, fitness centres, and even at home if space allows.
The exercise bike has become a staple piece of equipment in gyms across the world because of its ability to provide a full-body workout.
There are some people who would have you believe that cycling is the answer to all your health problems.
If you are suffering from back pain or any other chronic health issue, then cycling is one of the best exercises you can do to strengthen your core muscles, which in turn, will help to strengthen your back.
If you’v ever wondered whether an exercise bike is an effective way to relieve lower back pain, then read on for the answer.
Let’s start!
What causes back pain?
Back pain occurs when one or multiple parts of the vertebrae become damaged through trauma, disease, accidents, or overstressing muscles and ligaments.
This results in inflammation, swelling and/or compression of nerves running along the spine.
There are three main areas where problems occur – between the discs located inside each bone; within the facet joints located near the top of each individual vertebra; and within the sacrum and coccyx.
Problems occurring in these locations often lead to sciatica, pinched nerve syndrome or degenerative disc disease.
Pain originating outside the lumbar region, affecting either leg or buttock area, usually originates from another source.
How to properly use Exercise Bikes to help back pain
Exercising on an upriht stationary bike is a great way to strengthen your back and improve your upright posture.
Here’s what you should do:
1. You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure that the bike is set up and working properly before you start your workout.
2. When using an exercise bike, set the impact seat back to a height that allows your feet to rest flat on the floor. If there’s no bike support available, you may use a yoga mat or towel to do so.
3. To best avoid causing more pain, you should stretch your back and warm up before you exercise and stretch afterwards.
4. You should also make sure to rest and avoid strenuous activity when your back is bothering you.
5. When using an upright bike, make sure that you are in a comfortable position.
6. Make sure that all of your body’s heavy weight is on your seat and not your hands.
7. Also, make sure that your back is straight and your feet are on the pedals. If your feet are on the pedals, make sure that they are flat so that you can properly push yourself.
8. Seat height is another thing to pay attention to. Some types of exercise bikes have adjustable bucket seat, while others do not.
5 Thing to consider before you start exercise
If you have a bad case of the lower back pain:
1) Don’t buy an air bike
This type of bike uses air resistance to simulate riding outdoors. It won’t give you much support since there is no saddle like a real bicycle does.
So it might not be very helpful in relieving your low back pain. But if you want to try something new without spending too much money, this could be perfect for you.
2) Choose a real bicycle exercise machine
These types of bicycles normally come with two wheels and an adjustable seat similar to what you’d find on a normal road exercise bike workout.
You’re going to need to invest more than $100 dollars for a good quality model. The most important thing about these models is that they offer a lot of stability.
That means your legs will feel supported while exercising. If you suffer from severe lower back pain, these machines may actually reduce your symptoms by working out those tight body muscles groups around your spine.
3) Get a stair climber or elliptical trainer
Both stair climbers and ellipticals are great options for anyone looking to relieve their lower back pain. Since both devices require minimal effort, they aren’t likely to aggravate existing injuries.
Stair Climbers tend to cost less than ellipticals. And although they lack the stability offered by a regular stationary bike, they still make up for it with ease-of-use.
Plus, they allow users to perform cardio workouts indoors without having to worry about inclement weather conditions.
4) Buy a recumbent exercise bike
A Recumbent bike looks just like a standard upright cycle except instead of sitting in a traditional seated position, you lie down during your ride.
While this style of machine offers many benefits, including increased core strength and improved posture, it also comes with several drawbacks. Most notably, lying flat on your stomach puts strain on your neck and shoulders.
You should only consider buying a recumbent bike after first consulting a doctor to ensure that it wouldn’t cause any long term damage to your spinal cord.
5) Try a rowing machine.
Rowing machines are excellent at strengthening your upper body as well as improving overall cardiovascular fitness.
They provide a stable workout environment that allows you to focus on lifting weights rather than worrying about balancing yourself.
However, when used incorrectly, rowing machines can put excessive stress on certain joints. In addition, some people experience discomfort in their wrists because of improper form.
Still others complain of shoulder aches due to poor technique. To avoid injury, consult with a physical therapist before beginning a routine using a rower.
How to fix back pain aside from exercising?
The best way to treat back pain is prevention. This means following a healthy lifestyle which includes proper diet, form of exercise will, rest and relaxation.
It’s important to understand that most cases of back pain are minor and will resolve themselves naturally if left untreated. If symptoms persist, however, seek medical attention immediately.
If you have already been diagnosed with chronic low back pain, there are various treatments available depending upon its severity.
These include:
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture has proven effective for treating LBP. It involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the skin, which stimulates the release of natural chemicals called endorphins.
Endorphins act as analgesics, meaning they reduce feelings of pain. The treatment may be performed alone or combined with other therapies.
- Chiropractic care
Chiropractors use manual techniques to adjust misaligned bones and pressure sensitive tissues in order to realign them properly. Spinal adjustments help restore normal movement patterns so that the spine functions normally again.
- Massage therapy
Massage helps improve blood circulation, relax tense muscle groups and increase flexibility.
- Physical therapy
Physiotherapists work closely with patients to develop an individualised rehabilitation exercise program based on each patient’s needs.
Treatment focuses on stretching correct muscles, building endurance and correcting faulty movements through exercises designed specifically for those suffering from musculoskeletal problems.
- Relaxation/meditation
Meditation and deep breathing techniques are often recommended by yoga teachers as ways to deal with anxiety and tension.
These methods involve focusing one’s mind on relaxing activities while simultaneously taking slow, controlled breaths.
Reasons why use exercise bike
There are a variety of reasons why people choose to purchase a bike exercises. Some benefit of exercise are listed below::
1. Get a good cardiovascular workout at home.
2. Improve joint and muscle strength and mobility.
3. Build endurance and energy.
4.Help with weight loss and maintain a healthy weight.
5. Work on specific muscle groups to improve posture and balance
6. Help relieve back and joint pain.
7. Help relieve stress.
8. Help relieve insomnia.
9. Help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
10. Help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions.
Final Words
Riding an exercise bike is nothing but an easy way to burn calories, but it’s not the best way to strengthen your core muscles.
A regular workout routine strengthens muscles through resistance training, which builds muscle mass. While the regular exercise bike is a low-impact exercise, it doesn’t help strengthen your core muscles.
A series of exercise bike is a great addition to an overall workout routine. It’s convenient, easy to use and doesn’t require any special skill or training.
