How Can Indoor Cycling Be High-Intensity but Low-Impact?

Some of the terms we use in the exercise and fitness industry can be confusing to consumers. In fact, some are confusing even to industry professionals. Two such terms are 'intensity' and 'impact'. Even though trainers and gym owners are known to use the terms interchangeably, they mean entirely different things.

Perhaps your search for a spin class in Salt Lake City has led you to more than one website referring to indoor cycling as both high-intensity and low-impact. Maybe you are wondering how that can be true? It all boils down to a definition of terms. As you will see by the time you finish reading this post, your typical spinning class is indeed high-intensity but low-impact.

What Intensity Means

The term 'intensity', in relation to exercise and workouts, relates to the difficulty level of the exercise in question. Think of intensity as the amount of work you have to do while exercising. We can apply the same principle to some of the basic chores you do around the house.

Before the days of electricity, people used to do the laundry using a big tub, a washboard, and either a rock or tree stump. They would manually scrub their clothes on the washboard and then beat them on the rock to get the excess water out. Doing laundry back then was a high-intensity chore because it involved a tremendous amount of physical work.

By contrast, throwing the dirty clothes in the washing machine and turning a dial requires very little physical effort. The washing machine represents a low-intensity means of getting the laundry done. Exercise works in much the same way.

Indoor cycling classes are high-intensity workouts because you are pedaling throughout the entire class. In more advanced classes, you might also be doing exercises with your arms and upper body while your legs continue to pedal. The amount of work you do is what qualifies indoor cycling as high-intensity.

What Impact Means

'Impact' is a term our industry uses to describe the amount of force your body must endure during exercise. Remember that force and work are two different things. Work is the amount of energy you expend to do something. Force is an amount of energy your body absorbs as a result of doing something.

Running is considered a high-impact exercise because the feet, ankles, legs, and hips endure a significant amount of force with every stride. As heel makes impact with the ground, the energy required to run is reflected back up into the body through the feet, legs, etc.

Other high impact exercises include weightlifting, calisthenics, and team sports ranging from basketball to football and hockey.

Indoor cycling is low-impact because the body endures very little force during exercise. In fact, the only force felt is that which is produced by the stationary bike itself. And it is not much. Furthermore, opposing force is lessened by the fact that pedals remain in motion during exercise. This minimizes the little impact there is.

Know the Difference

We can't do anything about the fact that people use the terms 'intensity' and impact' interchangeably in relation to exercise. However, we can all make a point of knowing and understanding the differences. It is possible for an exercise program to be simultaneously high-intensity and low impact. Indoor cycling offers one such opportunity.

If you live in the Salt Lake City area and have been looking for a cycling studio near you, we invite you to visit Mcycle. We think you will find a home here. We approach indoor cycling with an entirely different mindset that we think you'll appreciate.