Rowing is a sport with several benefits to the body, but to choose one of the best rowing machines, it is necessary to take some precautions. The oar, no doubt, is one of the complete sports that exist: it works for almost all muscle groups at the same time, increases resistance, and spends a lot of calories.
Still, it is a sport that is not widely practiced, due to the need for very specific training conditions – such as, for example, a place with plenty of water. Fortunately, there is a device that can help us
It is a rowing machine that can very accurately imitate traditional rowing movements and bring all its benefits. But what benefits are these? And How do you choose the best paddle machine? All of this you discover right now. Keep reading!
What Are the Main Benefits of Rowing Machines?
Before we start talking about the compact rowing machines themselves, it is interesting to remember what are the main benefits of rowing for the body.
Exercise the Whole Body
Whoever thinks that rowing exercises only the arms could not be more wrong: rowing is one of the complete sports that exist, exercising almost all muscle groups.
That’s because the paddle doesn’t just use the arms, but the back, the chest, the abdomen, and the legs. With each repetition, all these muscles work, and it is estimated that about 85% of your body moves simultaneously.
The result? The definition of muscles throughout the body. Cool huh?
High Caloric Expenditure
As you may already imagine, moving the whole body is not a simple thing: it takes a lot of energy for you to perform the movements perfectly. And that brings us to the second benefit of rowing: caloric expenditure. It is estimated that it is possible to spend up to 500 calories in a rowing session of just 30 minutes.
In addition, as you increase your muscle mass, the more energy your muscles will use – even when they are not straining. That is, the paddle promotes the loss of calories during and after the activity.
Improves Cardiorespiratory Endurance
The heart and breathing are closely linked: the heart pumps blood, which passes through the lungs and carries oxygen to the body’s tissues. This oxygen is necessary for the body to have energy and to remain active. When your body’s energy needs are not met, you feel tired.
The ability to supply energy to the body is called cardiorespiratory resistance. The bigger you are, the more you will be able to bring oxygen to your cells, which will not only allow you to exercise for longer but literally lead to a more active and less tired life.
And guess who can improve your cardiorespiratory endurance? That’s right, the paddle.
How to Choose the Best Paddle Machine?
The rowing indoor, i.e., held a simulation apparatus, has the same benefits as traditional rowing – and you still have the advantage of not getting wet. Now, to choose the best paddle machine.
Stroke type
There are two types of rowing when it comes to rowing machines: closed and open rowing, both of which are excellent back exercises.
The closed stroke is more common in rowing machines to use less space and allow the construction of more compact apparatuses. In general, it uses a handle that is in front of the user.
The open stroke is not as common, but it exists. In this case, the “oars” are on the sides of the device, just as they would be on the traditional oar.
In a practical way, the two movements are very similar and work for the same muscle groups.
If you have little space at home, the closed row is the most suitable; otherwise, the best paddle machine can be either.
Load type
For rowing machines, there are basically two types of load: mechanical and magnetic.
The mechanical load is one that uses weights to adjust the resistance of the device and the intensity of the exercise. The magnetic charge uses magnets to create this resistance.
We recommend the use of magnetic charge for three reasons: safety, comfort, and practicality.
Security: as the magnetic load does not involve weights, there is no risk, for example, of the weights being released;
Comfort: the magnetic charge makes the exercise very low impact, making the experience much more comfortable and saving your body from unnecessary effort;
Practicality: it is much simpler to change the intensity of the exercise when working with magnetic loads. Instead of fiddling with weights, as in the case of mechanical loading, just press a few buttons, and the device does the rest of the work.
Comfort
Comfort can be a problem when carrying out physical activities. After all, comfort is associated with rest, not effort!
In the case of rowing machines, however, there may be some comfort since you exercise while sitting. Look for devices that have anatomical seats that help you maintain your posture but without impairing your performance.
On the other hand, the best rowing machine is one in which the handles and other parts where you put your hands are comfortable to touch, preferably with rubberized linings.
These are some simple details, but they make a big difference when it comes to repeating the same movement dozens or hundreds of times.
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