Text: Angelika Urbach
One of the few sports physicians to study the contact points between people and recumbent bikes is back expert Dr Willy Zink. The orthopaedist, sports physician and director of the Frankenpark Clinic in Bad Kissingen has investigated the effects of different sitting positions on back strain. The result: "The reclined position on chair and recumbent bikes results in a significantly lower axial load on the lower lumbar spine," says Dr Zink. This is precisely the area in which the intervertebral discs wear out most frequently due to everyday stresses.
For people with existing disc damage and for rehab patients, recumbent bikes offer the opportunity to remain active without pain and to train their cardiovascular system gently. This training even has healing effects for the back.
The full-length article from issue 3/2012 is available as a free PDF download.
