Picture of a young woman using a cyclocentric ergometer

The cyclocentric ergometer incorporates a gliding seat system that can either be locked in place or allowed to move forward or backward. When the seat is fixed in its position, it serves as a conventional semi-recumbent bike. For cyclocentric exercise, the seat must be unlocked and allowed to glide within a range set by a therapist or the user. The direction of movement can be identified by the red arrows in the lower left picture:

Elastic cords, seen in the upper right picture, are attached to the base of the unit and determine the amount of resistance. They provide a pulling force toward the pedals. The more cords attached, the higher the force or resistance. This force can range from 10 to 100 lbs. As users pedal, they must resist against this force; otherwise, they are pulled closer to the pedals. If the individual can match this force, the seat position remains stable.

All brands of cyclocentric ergometers offer a range of different types of exercises with both the locked and cyclocentric features. Isokinetic speed control is excellent for building muscles, while the constant power effort is great for cardiovascular benefits. There are also many different programs that will allow the individual to do interval training or to simulate biking up a hill, as seen on the display screen on the right.