Indoor rowing machines give people a total body workout through stationary physical training. Used to simulate watercraft rowing, stationary rowing machines were developed for collegiate rowing teams in the 1950′s, and by the 1960′s, indoor rowers were quintessential for all college level, or professional rowers. While providing the same cardiovascular benefits as running, rowing machines are great because they do not put the same high impact pressure on your body that running on a treadmill does. Rowing machines are traditional pieces of exercise equipment that have been used for decades and their longevity can be attributed to many things, one of which is their simple drive system that controls resistance. Resistance created from a spinning flywheel, controlled by a braking system, is a very common on rowing machines. Indoor fitness rowers, controlled by braked flywheel resistance, are powered through a flywheel that is connected by by some kind of strap, rope or chain.

Stationary rowers with electromagnetic resistance use electromagnets and a flywheel to control resistance. Magnetic drive and braking systems are quieter than rowing machines with flywheels that are air and water resistant.

Air resistance, as many of us have seen on stationary exercise bikes, is another form of resistance and power for rowing machines. Models that use air-resistance have fan-like blades that are connected to the flywheel. As the speed of the flywheel increases, the resistance increases. Rowers with this type of air resistance are one of some of the loudest rowing machines in the fitness equipment industry.

Another form of resistance on rowing machines is water. With an enclosed tank of water, and a paddle in the center, water based rowing machines simulate the natural sounds one would hear if they were rowing in a pond, lake or ocean. Many of the newer rowing machines made by First Degree Fitness such the as the Fluid Neptune and Pacific are good examples of solid, well reviewed, water rowers. Water rowers emulate the smooth and natural rowing motions that one would feel when they are rowing in a real rowboat with oars, which is one of their many likable features.

Piston resistance is created from hydraulic cylinders that are connected to the arms of the rowing machine. Rowing machines that have pistons are typically smaller than water and air rowers. Besides structural differences between piston and water rowers, is that rowers with pistons have less of a natural rowing feel, than air, water and electromagnetic rowers. Typically smaller and less expensive than other rowing machines, piston rowers are not the health club caliber rowing machines one would use in a health club or fitness facility.

Today, millions of people use stationary rowing machines across the planet at their gym, health club, office, and home gyms. Whereas most fitness equipment is heavy, bulky and immobile, rowing machines are effective, easy to move and do not create an eye-sore that takes up half of your guest room.