Exercising the knee through stationary bike is one of the best ways to strengthen weak knees and manage bad knees such as arthritis, torn meniscus, torn ACL, cartilage and ligament tear, and other bad knees condition. Getting the best exercise bike for arthritic knees is a great way to manage osteoarthritis more prevalent in seniors.
Furthermore, exercise bikes are working out equipment suitable for home use. They help in toning your body, burning out fats, strengthen the hearts, lungs, and even help you sleep better. Therefore, as much as it helps to strengthen your knees, it is of great importance to the overall health of the user.
In this article, we discuss and answered every question you might have about exercise bikes, types, what to look for in a good stationary bike, and suggest some of the best stationary bikes available to purchase.
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Top List of the Best Stationary Exercise Bike for Arthritic and Bad knees
Overall Best Recumbent Exercise Bike: EXERPEUTIC 300SR Recumbent Bike
Overall Best Upright Exercise Bike: Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
Best Budget: Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
The Best Exercise Bike with Desk: Exerpeutic ExerWorK 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike
Best Exercise Bike with Screen: NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle
What is the best exercise bike for knee problems?
There are many factors to be considered before affirming an exercise bike to be the best and what might be the best for an individual might not be a great fit for another person. The health benefits of an exercise bike are many, therefore, selecting the best one should be of utmost importance. There are two types of stationary bikes:
Upright Stationary Exercise Bike
An upright exercise bike is very similar to your traditional bikes. You sit in an upright position, hunching over a little and your neck slightly bent.
Pros of Upright Exercise Bike
- Low impact workout
- Consistent working out closely related to the traditional cycling
- It simulates outdoor exercise better
- It takes lesser space in the home
- Upright stationary bike strengthens the knee, hips and upper body region
- It improves cardiovascular
Cons of Upright Exercise Bike
- It can give soreness of muscle, especially to the back.
- The upright stationary bike might not be a suitable one for folks with back problems
- It comes with a small seat compared to a recumbent exercise bike
See also: Best rollator walker for seniors
Recumbent Stationary Exercise Bike
This is also a good one for exercising and working out. It is different from an upright exercise bike in appearance but similar in function. However, the recumbent bike is great for folks with back problems especially our elderly folks that might find balancing hard on upright exercise bikes.
Pros of Recumbent Exercise Bike
- They are great for folks with back problems since you can sit comfortably and bike
- Upright exercise bikes have a larger seat, making them a good choice for elderly
- They are also more convenient, safer and comfortable to use
- Recumbent bikes are generally great for folks with physical limitations.
Con of Recumbent Exercise Bike
- It takes more space than an upright exercise bike
Both recumbent and upright stationary exercise bikes can be a good choice for arthritic knees and other knee problems as they both give low impact workout sessions. What you should go for would depend on personal preference and health conditions.
Read: Best mini exercise bike
How to Select the Best Stationary Bike for Bad Knees
Here are some factors to look into while selecting a stationary exercise bike.
Type or Style of Bike (Recumbent vs. Upright)
You need to settle on the style of exercise bike you want, either recumbent or upright bike. There are some factors you put into consideration before making the decision. Please read more about upright and recumbent bike above, its pros and cons to getting better knowledge. You can also talk to your fitness trainer for better advice on the type that will be more suitable for you.
Weight Capacity
The maximum weight the exercise bike can hold is important and you have to be sure that your body weight does not exceed this safety limit. Selecting a bike with lesser capacity to your weight can lead to serious injuries caused by breaking down of the bike.
Adjustable Resistance
Almost all stationary bikes should have this but there is nothing bad in double-checking to be sure. Adjustable resistance will give you the option to adjust to your fitness level or your preferred workout difficulty level.
Ergonomic Features and Comfort
There are features that ensure the comfort of the user and place the user in control to adjust to their preferences. The seat, handle, backrest and armrest should be well padded for the comfort of the user. The exercise bike should also be adjustable to accommodate many users with different heights. You also need an exercise bike with wheels that will make it easy to move from one place to the other.
Other Accessories
Accessories like the cup holders, the type of screen display, MP3 players, and USB port are accessories, though not vital but can be an added advantage to your biking session.
Check also:
Top 7 Best Stationary Exercise Bikes to Strengthen knees
Overall Best Recumbent Exercise Bike: EXERPEUTIC 300SR Recumbent Bike
Specifications
- Style: Recumbent Bike
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
- Product setup dimensions: 33”L x 19”W x 46”H
- Foldable
- 8 level Magnetic Tension System
- Product Weight: 43 pounds
- Adjustable Large Seat Cushion and Backrest
This stationary recumbent exercise bike is our top recumbent bike for the best exercise bike for bad knees. It has lots of features that make it one of the most purchased exercise bikes.
EXERPEUTIC 300SR Recumbent Bike is not only compact in size for easy storage; it is equipped with wheelbase that enhances easy rolling from one place to the other. The design is semi-recumbent to ensure the user can easily get in or out of the bike.
Your comfort is vital so the seat and backrest are properly cushioned to reduce discomfort. The seat and backrests can be adjusted to suit all users’ height from 5 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 2 inches user height. This makes it a good choice for family use.
You can also adjust your workout difficulty level through its 8-level magnetic tension system. This makes it easy to set to your fitness level and work your way upward. It has other amazing features like hand pulse sensors for targeting heart rate zone and LCD screen to monitor distance, calories burned, time, speed, scan and pulse.
Draw Back
- The Bike is a little bit noisy
- Folks with heavyweight might find the seat irritating their thigh.
Overall Best Upright Exercise Bike: Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
Specifications
- Style: Upright Stationary Bike
- 29 exercise programs
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Product Dimension: 41.3″L X 21.4″W X 55.6”H
- Adjustable height for users height 4’6″ to 6’6″
- 25 levels of computer-aided resistance
- 10 resistance quick keys with 12 profile
- 9 heart rate programs for up to 4 user profiles.
If you want to have a great cardio workout with a fun-filled session, then you might want to go for this upright exercise bike. It is our overall best upright exercise bike for bad knees.
Schwinn 170 Upright Bike has great workout programs, up to 9 heart rate programs for up to 4 user profiles. This makes it easy for you to monitor your progress. It also further has different resistance levels to help you customize the difficulty level of your workout.
The stationary bike has an in-built USB port where you can charge your gadget and an MP3 option for music player through its in-built speaker.
Your comfort is also important; the exercise bike is equipped with wide pedal and straps to hold your feet in place. It also has an option to rest your shoulders during your biking session.
Bluetooth connectivity for “virtual world explore” option is what you rarely find in other exercise bikes. The user can track and monitor their progress through popular app-based tracking tools like Explore the World, MyFitnessPal, UA Record, and more.
Best Budget: Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
Specifications
- Style: Recumbent Exercise Bike
- Assembled product dimensions: 55.5 x 25 x 37.5 inches
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Product Weight: 61 pounds
- Padded seat and armrest
For its price, this recumbent exercise bike will be the best you can get with lots of great features that improve your fitness. Compared to other exercise bikes, it is much more affordable, a great product for the price.
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike is sturdy and comfortable and that has made the product one of the most purchased recumbent bikes. Its heavy-duty construction features 14-gauge steel tubing with a powder-coated finish.
The bike uses magnetic resistance up to eight levels. It has tension knobs that can be used to vary difficulty level, simulate riding on different terrains, and customize your workout according to fitness level.
On its LCD screen, you can easily monitor time, speed, distance, and calories burned. It can also record your total distance covered to allow you to monitor your progress.
The seat can be adjusted to accommodate more users and that makes it a great choice for the family. Its seat and armrests are padded for more comfort. It is one of the best exercise bikes to strengthen the arthritic knee and other knee problems.
Draw Back
- The LCD screen does not have a backlight, so it might be unreadable without external light.
Best Exercise Bike with Desk: Exerpeutic ExerWorK 1000 Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike
Specifications
- Style: Semi-recumbent
- Adjustable desktop and seat
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- 8 level Magnetic Tension control system
- Storage Drawer
Do you need something to exercise with and work at a go? This exercise bike is a great fit as it features a large desk that you can place your books and laptop on, so you ride while you work without interference.
Exerpeutic ExerWorK Exercise Bike is midway between upright and recumbent bikes. The seat position is placed at a natural sitting position you are when you work on the desk and it can be adjusted to your preference.
The desktop can be adjusted to perfectly fit your position. Its height can be adjusted from 41-45 inches at 1-inch increment, while its angle can be set at 0, 16 and 33 degrees to suit your exact need.
Its seat is well padded for comfort and the overall bike can be adjusted to suit users between 5’1” to 6’3”. You can easily fold it to compact size and roll it through its wheel. It is one of the best stationary exercise bikes.
Best Exercise Bike with Screen: NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle
Specifications
- Style: Upright Exercise Bike
- Weight Capacity: 350 pounds
- 22” display screen
- Live connect with fitness coach
- SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance
The bike has a 22-inch coaching interactive touchscreen. This helps you to connect live with a fitness coach who can live control of your bike’s resistance, incline, and decline in real-time. You can also connect with friends for cycling sessions without leaving the comfort of your home.
The interactive personal training is powered by iFit and you will get 1-year free membership when you buy this product to gain access to on-demand, interactive trainer-led global and studio workout programs.
NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle is an upright exercise bike, so, its seat is almost the same as your outdoor bike. It can be adjusted to accommodate more users of varying height. The bike will also carry a maximum weight of 350 pounds.
The exercise bike is sturdy in construction with a great buying assurance program. You will get a 10-year warranty on the frame, 2-years on parts, and 1-year labor warranty. It is one of the best exercise bikes for arthritic knees.
Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike
Specifications
- Style: Recumbent Exercise Bike
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- LCD console with backlight
- Well-padded seat with backrest
- High inertia perimeter weighted flywheel
- In-built fan
This is one of the best recumbent exercise bikes and a good one to strengthen the arthritic knee and other knee problems. It has 29 programs with 12 profiles, 9 heart rate controls, 4 customs, 2 fitness tests, and 1 quick start smartly operated on its power console control panel.
Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike also has Bluetooth connectivity which allows you to sync your stationary bike to Schwinn Trainer App and other apps for fitness tracking. You can also virtually ride with friends in real-time by syncing it with free downloadable RideSocial App
The stationary bike also features 25-levels of resistance to help you adjust your workout intensity. It also has an LCD screen, USB port to charge, in-built speaker for MP3 player, and a media shelf, all to make your workout session comfortable and fulfilled.
ProGear 225 Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
Specifications
- Style: Upright Stationary Exercise Bike
- Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
- Folded Dimensions (Unfolded): 19” L x 17.5” W x 53” H (32” L X 17.5” W X 46” H)
- 8-magnetic resistance level
- Adjustable cushioned seat.
It is one of the best upright stationary exercises readily foldable to a compact size for easy storage. When folded, it has dimensions 19″ L x 17.5″ w x 53″ H, taking very little space in the home when stored.
ProGear 225 Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike has a weight capacity of 220 pounds with the product weighing 34.8 pounds. Due to its lightweight and wheel system, it can be easily moved from one location to the other around the home.
It also comes with an “easy-to-read” LCD screen that displays calories burned, distance, time, speed, pulse, and scan. This helps you monitor your fitness progress; also, its heart pulse sensor monitors the heart rate.
The seat is correctly cushioned and adjustable to accommodate many users of different heights. It also has large pedals with safety straps to hold the feet in place during the exercise.
You will also enjoy quiet operation through its balanced flywheel and V- belt drive. With this, you can exercise and listen to music, news, and other things without getting distracted by unnecessary noise. It is one of the best exercise bikes to get for knee problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are exercise bikes good for bad knees?
Exercising with a stationary bike is one of the best for bad knees because the exercise is done without placing body weight on the injured leg.
The knee joint is also strengthened thereby reducing knee pains from injuries. It is, however, important to get medical advice from your doctor or fitness trainer to be sure your cycling will be a great exercise for your knee condition.
What is the best stationary bike for bad knees?
Both upright and recumbent bikes are great fits. If your knee hurts you a lot, we will recommend recumbent stationary bike as it is more convenient to use and does not put any extra strain on the knees and back region.
Is a stationary bike good for arthritic knees?
YES!
Studies have shown that exercises such as cycling reduce joint pain and stiffness, which are common symptoms of arthritis. It has also been proved that folks with arthritis feel more relieved from exercising their knee joints.
Why do my knees hurt after a stationary bike?
Your knee joint will probably hurt because of unfit stationary bike. This is why you must select the best one for you that suits your height, weight, and also enhances comfort.
What exercise to avoid for knee pain?
Not all exercises are good for knee pain and there are some knee exercises to avoid especially when you are dealing with arthritis.
What is the best exercise for arthritic knees?
Apart from a stationary bike, there are some exercises that can be very rewarding to arthritic knees. Examples are hamstring stretch, leg stretch, half squat among others. You can also check our article on the best knee strengthening exercises to learn more ways to strengthen a weak knee.
Final Words
Recumbent and upright stationary bikes are a great fit for folks with bad knees like arthritis, meniscus tear, ACL tear, and other knee problems. Selecting the best can be relative to each individual. However, we have come up with a list of bikes with good features and many positive feedbacks from previous buyers.
We encourage you to read through the reviews and select confidently from any of the listed stationary exercise bikes. If you are buying offline, this article should be a great guide to help you select a suitable exercise bike.