Design of Rowing Machine:  The Ultimate Workout Tool  

As you can probably guess, the design of rowing machine is meant to mimic that of a boat. Row boats that use this motion are especially popular in England and college campuses about the world with access to a body of water. Why would anyone design a machine that mimics this movement? It’s simple, the movement works the whole body and those that row often are always in outstanding shape. Rowing works the muscles of the body like nothing else, so the design of rowing machine is meant to make bodies more fit. 

The Evolving Design of Rowing Machine 

The design of rowing machine is not all that attractive or may look a bit odd, but the machine is meant to duplicate that of sculling, and the machine makes it an effective workout.  You may find it interesting to know that the first rowing machine was made about a hundred years ago.  Designs of rowing machines have changed since those early days, making them lighter, more easy to store and sleeker.   

The first designs of rowing machines around 1900’s were based on pneumatic pressure to drive the rowing motion.  They were very heavy because they were made of iron.  You had to row a solid iron wheel around to get your workout and for obvious reasons these were not very popular. 

The 1980’s 

In the 1980’s the design of rowing machines was given a makeover.  Instead of using pneumatic pressure, they now used air resistance which made them more appealing to a wider audience of consumers.  You just can’t row the oars back and forth on a hinge.  The workout comes from the resistance the water gives the oars.  Also, it was now made with much lighter materials, but was still sturdy.  Those who enjoy sculling said that these machines felt much more like actual sculling than any of the machines made previous to this time. 

Indoor Rowing Today 

Today the design of rowing machine is better than every.  Today people from all walks of life can enjoy the benefits of the rowing machines.  Indoor rowing is now considered a sport in it’s own right, where the race isn’t who crosses the finish line first, but who reaches a certain distance on the ergometer first.  You can get in shape quickly with these machines and they come in many different sizes and are many by many different manufacturers.  If you are interested in using a rowing machine, shop around a bit so you can get the best price possible.