How to Choose the Right Rehab Exercise Bike for Your Home Gym

Aug 15th, 2024
A patient doing rehab excercise

Although exercise bikes are a great choice for anyone wanting to improve fitness levels, they are also excellent for injury prevention and rehabilitation. According to this journal by the National Library of Medicine, in a 16-week aerobic exercise program using bikes, there was improved agility, flexibility, muscular endurance, strength, and cardiopulmonary endurance in female middle school students.

If you’re creating a home gym for your rehabilitation plan and want the best bike for your needs, there are many options available that you can discuss with your treating professional.

This blog will be your guide to different types of exercise bikes, their versatility, how they support rehabilitation, and why physical therapists use them to aid patients with injury prevention.

The Importance of Rehab Rehabilitation Exercise Bikes

Design chart for smart rehab excercise bike

Why are exercise bikes so useful for aiding rehabilitation and supporting injuries? 

According to this medical journal, smart exercise bikes for motor rehabilitation can assist Parkinson’s patients with exercise to improve motor function. Robotic rehabilitation devices have been used in Parkinson’s Disease and stroke treatment to promote motor recovery in patients.

In this case, the exercise was designed and built to help Parkinson’s patients control the rider’s experience at an accelerated pedalling rate, delivering high-intensive therapy that helps movement and responds to patient performance. 

Treating professionals such as physical therapists can create customised workout programs to focus on specific muscle groups, strengthening key areas weakened from injury. Resistance levels can be adjusted, the seat positioned for comfort, and the patient can gradually progress without causing strain or further injury. Cycling can also increase the range of motion and joint flexibility, preventing muscle stiffness.

With adjustable resistance levels and customised workouts, patients can achieve fitness and rehabilitation goals by strengthening leg muscles, increasing cardiovascular endurance, and improving mental wellbeing. The exercise bike is a controlled and safe way to build strength, flexibility, and is accessible for people of all fitness levels.

Types of Injuries Prevented

Man doing excercise on rehab excercise bike

What kinds of injuries can rehabilitation bikes help? They do more than offer a cardio workout!

Back injuries

Rehabilitation bikes promote core strength and support back injuries with low-impact cycle workouts that help back health and spinal alignment, reducing the risk of further injury.

Engaging these core muscles means improving your posture, alleviating tightness, and preventing stiffness in surrounding muscles.

Shoulder injuries

Rehab bikes improve endurance levels and engage arm muscles, giving patients a safe platform for helping with injury.

Target the shoulders with training intensity options, maintain proper form, and encourage smooth, controlled movements for joint stability and shoulder health.

Ankle injuries

With targeted strength training, routines that involve balance, and recovery strategies guided by health professionals to support patient recovery.

Rehab bikes allow patients to build up muscles surrounding the ankle joint to reduce the risk of injury, and perform balance routines for coordination to resist ankle sprains or twists. Gentle pedalling can promote blood flow to the ankle and reduce inflammation.

Knee injuries

Indoor cycling bikes are great for physiotherapy programs that strengthen knee muscles and ligaments and offer low-impact, gentle cardiovascular workouts.

Adjustable resistance levels on exercise bikes (such as Monark Elite Training Bike) allow the gradual building of strength in surrounding muscles and stabilise the knee joint.


Do you require practitioner supplies in Melbourne? Certified to the ISO 9001 International Quality Standard, Access Health is a major supplier of Gym and Home Fitness, Daily Living and Mobility, Practice Supplies, Patient Handling, Rehab and Equipment, and more.

Types of Exercise Bikes for Training and Rehabilitation

Let’s examine the types of rehabilitation bikes, their features, and how they benefit patient recovery. Recumbent bikes, for example, have a laid-back seating position and full back support, perfect for patients with lower back issues!

BODYWORX Deluxe Step Through Programmable Recumbent

BODYWORX Deluxe Step Through Programmable Recumbent rehab bike

With an adjustable console angle, step-through design, built-in transport wheels, features such as a USB charging port, iPad holder, and compatibility with Bluetooth apps, why is the BODYWORX bike so essential for rehabilitation?

  • Resistance: 32 Level Computer Controlled Resistance.
  • The console has a Dual Coloured backlit display with illuminated LED buttons.
  • Programs: 12x Pre-set, 4x Users, 4x HRC, Recovery, Watts (Constant Power) and a Manual.
  • Includes heart rate recovery, complete with a built-in receiver and chest strap for accurate heart rate monitoring and control to keep track of patients.
  • The seat is in a riding position for all users and has an adjustable backrest.
  • Self-balancing pedals with adjustable foot straps.
  • A 3-piece crank system offers strength and reliability.
  • Fixed Handlebar.

BODYWORX Programmable Mag Recumbent

BODYWORX Programmable Mag Recumbent rehab bike

The key features of the BODYWORX rehabilitation bike include:

  • A Resistance Level of 32 Auto Tension.
  • Programmable options include HRC, Beginner, Advance, Sporty, Cardio, Watt Program, Recovery, Body Fat, and Manual.
  • A Heart Rate Contact and Polar Receiver.
  • Forward and backward seat adjustment and adjustable handlebars.
  • A large moulded saddle and a backrest mesh for comfort.
  • Assembled dimensions are 154.5cm (L) x 32.5cm (W) x  70.5cm (H).
  • Weight capacity is 150kg (331 LBS)

The Monark Elite Training Bike LC6

The Monark Elite Training Bike LC6

This LC6 model has a brand-new frame, is adjustable in all directions, is designed for fitness tests and can be controlled externally by a PC, terminal, or other external equipment. What are its features?

  • Has a Workload Range of 4-700W (50-100 RPM).
  • The Peak Power is 1400W (200RPM).
  • It can operate independently in Constant Power Mode (RPM).
  • Includes a MATS Display of RPM, Heart Rate, Time, Speed, Distance, Calories, Power in Watts, Force in Newtons and Data Transfer.
  • Fitness Tests include YMCA, Astrand, WHO and PWC.
  • A Manual Work Test.

Monark Cardio Care – 927E

Monark Cardio Care - 927E rehab excercise bike

The Monark Cardio Care is strong and reliable, with an easy-to-use ergometer for rehabilitation. It has a low entry, upright cycling position, and manual load adjustment! The 927E is the updated model with new features.

It has an easily adjustable brake system and a digital electronic display that shows speed in kilometres per hour, distance in kilometres, time in minutes, and heart rate in beats per minute. 

  • Width is 500mm (20″) at handlebar, 640mm (25″) at support tubes.
  • Length: 1240mm (44″).
  • Height: 1260mm (20″) at the handlebar, 780 – 1170mm (31″ – 46″) at the seat.
  • Weight: 46kg (101 lbs).
  • SWL Max user weight 250kg (551 lbs).

If you would like to learn more about patient rehabilitation supplies, have a read of the EquaGel medical cushions and uses for patient comfort!

Monark Rehab Trainer / Ergometer 881E

Monark Rehab Trainer  Ergometer 881

For rehabilitation and basic training, the Monark Rehab Trainer has adjustable crank arms with different angles and lengths. It can be used with hands and feet and can be calibrated in watts of 50 rpm. What is included with this ergometer?

  • Pedals and handles.
  • Accessories such as the Wall bar table and Adjustable stand Facts.
  • Can be calibrated.
  • Includes a graduated scale in watts, showing the workload at 50 rpm.
  • Includes an electronic measurement of rpm/minute, total rpm and time.
  • Has adjustable crank arms, both horizontally and vertically.
  • It has a transport handle that is vertically adjustable.
  • It is powder-painted and has wheels for easy transportation.

LANDICE E9RTM ELLIPTIMILL Rehab Trainer

LANDICE E9RTM ELLIPTIMILL Rehab Traine

The E9-RTMelliptical Trainer is a commercial-grade exercise unit designed to support the needs of sports, physical, and therapy facilities. Patients at any level will find therapeutic benefits, mimicking the natural biomechanics of the body.

The patient’s musculoskeletal system can achieve the best rehabilitative exercise program with:

  • Watts data to track and measure patient movement.
  • Isokinetic mode enables variable pedal resistance based on a target RPM.
  • Orthopaedic Gel Footpads.
  • Easy Rear Entry Access.
  • Adjustable stride lengths from 17″ – 23″ (23cm – 58cm).
  • 226 kg (300 pounds) user weight capacity.
  • Back-and-forth arm motion with various resistances.
  • Ultimate accessibility: step and safely start a workout. Pedals move only when the user is ready.

How do you choose ideal stationary bikes for injury prevention? Your healthcare practitioner will consider your ideal comfort levels, adjustability, and resistance settings for a safe workout that meets patient recovery goals.

The seat height, handlebar positioning, and versatile resistance must suit your condition and fitness level. The bike must also be durable enough to handle regular use and diverse training intensities and reliable for your rehabilitation journey. For example, an upright bike is a good option if you have knee concerns.If you’re an unsure patient, speak to your doctor or physical therapist for a recommendation.

Choose Access Health for Rehabilitation Bikes

Monark Exercise has 100 years of experience in bicycle production, and this tradition has yielded know-how, experience, and a real feel for product quality.

Since the early 1900s, Monark has created cycles that are reliable, precise, strong, and service patients’ rehabilitation goals and injury needs. Established in 1978, Access Health is a major supplier of rehab equipment, including rehab bikes from this world leader.

Whether you’re a medical professional in the market for recumbent exercise bikes, upright exercise bikes for joint pain, or bikes specific to your injury, we pride ourselves on going that little bit further to locate the product you need! 

Contact us today, request a Quote, view our Quality Policy or fill out our NDIS Order Form if you have a participant with a care plan!

Disclaimer: Access Health is not qualified to agree or deny whether this content is correct. For accurate information, consult your medical professional or provider.

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