Arm and leg trainers were originally developed for seniors – i.e. people who suffer from restricted freedom of movement in everyday life, whether due to age or injury. In the meantime, however, it has been found that the mini exercise bikes are just as suitable for people who want to train their upper and lower extremities at home for reasons of time or money. In contrast to other fitness equipment, the classic arm and leg trainers are significantly smaller and cheaper, so they can be easily stowed away and relieve the wallet. And that’s not all of the advantages they have to offer.
Regardless of the reasons you choose a classic arm and leg trainer, your muscles will benefit from the training device. The targeted strengthening of arms and legs also has other advantages:
You can complete the training on the side, while watching TV or in the home office (i.e. sitting down).
Your joints become more supple again and increase freedom of movement in everyday life
The blood circulation in the limbs is improved, making them stronger and more mobile
You strengthen your arm and leg muscles without putting a lot of strain on your body
With regular and effective training, you can reduce your weight
The classic arm and leg trainer is a simple training device with pedals that can be operated with both hands and feet – there is no handlebar or saddle. Accordingly, you can only exercise while sitting, which is certainly beneficial for seniors or people with balance problems. The same applies to everyone who currently has to work from home due to the Corona crisis and is therefore significantly less active in everyday life. In addition, the local gyms are all closed at the moment and there is no other option than to get active in your own four walls.
By kicking with your feet or cranking with your hands, you can primarily train your arms, shoulders and legs. This strengthens the muscles and also burns plenty of calories – if you bought the mini exercise bike to lose weight. In addition, you can improve your mental fitness through regular training: According to a study by the University of Bristol, people who train before or after work are significantly more productive. Even if you only train with low resistance (this can be individually adjusted on the arm and leg trainers), you increase the energy level and the oxygen content in your brain.
Of course, there is a wide range of other home exercise equipment that you can use to strengthen your arms and legs – but also other parts of the body. The most popular include:
The rowing machine
The TÜV-tested rowing machine for at home trains the entire back, thighs, calves and arms. It has eight resistances that you can set manually. The integrated training computer allows you to monitor training time, distance, rowing strokes per minute, calorie consumption and heart rate at any time. The device is collapsible and can be stowed away to save space.
The vibration plate
As the name suggests, the training device works with vibration levels. These are designed to help build muscle and burn fat. This vibration board has 180 different levels and eight training programs. This gives you the opportunity to relieve physical complaints (e.g. water retention, muscle weakness, incontinence, osteoporosis or obesity).
The treadmill
If you enjoy jogging outside, you depend on good weather. Because the risk of falling is particularly high on rainy days. With the treadmill at home, you can decide for yourself when and how often you do your training. The device has three programs, can be loaded with a maximum of 150 kilograms and can also be folded up so that it doesn’t have to stand in the way.
The trampoline
With the so-called jumping fitness, a new trend sport, you can burn a lot of calories – and have fun at the same time. All you need is a fitness trampoline with a quiet rubber cable suspension and a height-adjustable handle. And you can start the sweaty workout with your favorite music. Important: The device can withstand a maximum of 130 kilograms.
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