Logo for Itoiro Spin, a men's grooming brand, featuring stylized orange circle lines and the text 'ITOIRO SPIN' in bold orange letters, with 'UPPER BODY CONDITIONING' in white underneath.

TorsoSpin is a new version of what physical therapists call an Upper Body Ergometer or “arm bike.”

Rugged and versatile, TorsoSpin is designed for general strengthening and conditioning by people of all fitness levels, with the effectiveness and safety that physical therapists have long appreciated in ergometers.

Upper body ergometers are low impact and highly adaptable:

Adjustable Resistance: A user can begin the resistance at a very low level and gradually increase it as strength increases.

Controlled Movement: The fixed-path motion is safer than using free weights.

Provided to fitness and health clubs, TorsoSpin is designed for use in a class led by an instructor or under the direction of a trainer.

Prototype designed and crafted in the USA using imported components ee

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Physical therapists use Upper Body Ergometers to:

Increase Strength: It targets the muscles of the shoulders, arms (biceps and triceps), chest, and upper back.

Improve Range of Motion: The smooth, repetitive, and bi-directional (forward and backward) motion is perfect for gently restoring mobility in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, especially after surgery (like a rotator cuff repair) or injury.

Build Endurance: It helps patients rebuild muscular endurance in their arms and shoulders, which is essential for daily activities like lifting, pushing, and pulling.

Logo for Itooro Spin with orange circular design and orange and white text on black background, promoting upper body conditioning.

What muscles are worked during a TorsoSpin workout?

Arm muscles

Biceps: These muscles on the front of your upper arm contract as you pull the handles toward your body, particularly when using the “curl” grip.

Triceps: The muscles on the back of your upper arm extend the elbow joint as you push the handles away, and as you row downward

Forearms and wrists: The smaller muscles in your forearms and wrists are activated to maintain a firm grip on the handles. 

Shoulder and chest muscles

Deltoids : All three heads of the deltoids—front, side, and rear—are engaged to stabilize and move the arms, with a particular focus on the front deltoids during the pushing phase and the back deltoids during the pulls.

Pectorals : Your chest muscles assist in the pushing motion, particularly downward, while helping to stabilize your upper torso. 

Back and core muscles

Upper back : Trapezius and rhomboids work dynamically during each push and pull 

Lower back: Flexes and twists gently as effort alternates between right and left handles

Core : Abdominals and obliques  contract and release with each “pump” as you transmit power from your torso to your arms, and work isometrically to stabilize your body on the machine

By changing:

— your grip (palms down or up),

— your seating position (forward or back),

— your posture (seated, standing, kneeling, or on your back) , 

 —the height of the seat, 

you change the angle of effort and thus vary the muscles, ligaments and joints engaged and conditioned.

Logo for Itooro Spin with orange circular design and orange and white text on black background, promoting upper body conditioning.

Basics of Operation — page 1

Overhand grip

Underhand grip

For Joint Mobility and General Warm Up

  1. Overhand grip

  2. Light resistance

  3. Comfortable posture

  4. Straight lower back

  5. Pull back and over, one side, then other

  1. Make large, relaxed, shoulder circles

  2. Moderate cadence

  3. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

  1. Reverse direction

  2. Push over, one side, then other

  3. Continue relaxed shoulder motion

  4. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

Logo for Itooro Spin with orange circular design and orange and white text on black background, promoting upper body conditioning.

Basics of Operation — page 2

For Balanced Mobility and Strength

  1. Increase resistance to moderate

  2. Concentrate effort in a pump

  3. Continue shoulder circles

  4. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

  1. Reverse direction

  2. Push - pump over the top, one side, then other

  3. Continue shoulder circles

  4. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

  1. Change grip to underhand

  2. Pull - pump over the top, one side, then other

  3. Continue shoulder circles

  4. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

Logo for Itooro Spin with orange circular design and orange and white text on black background, promoting upper body conditioning.

Basics of Operation — page 3

For Maximum Arm Strength

  1. Increase resistance to moderate/heavy

  2. Hold shoulders and head steady, no circles

  3. No pump —continuous 360 degree effort

  4. Bilateral — both sides at once. Pull and push.

  5. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

  1. Change grip to overhand

  2. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

  1. Reverse direction

  2. Repeat for 10+ revolutions

Logo for Itooro Spin with orange circular design and orange and white text on black background, promoting upper body conditioning.

Play with these variations:

There are few wrong ways to use a TorsoSpin cycle.  Motion is lotion, so get that upper body moving.  To avoid strains, always keep your lower back straight and increase resistance gradually.    

  • Grips — overhand / underhand

  • Rotation — forward / backward

  • Direction of Effort —

    • push / pull

    • over / under

    • up /down

  • Shoulders — “rock & roll” active / steady

  • Strokes — smooth / pumped

  • Posture — sit / stand / kneel

  • Bench inclines — forward / backward, slight / steep

  • Resistance — light / moderate / heavy

  • Cadence — slow / moderate / intense

  • Foot Placement — under / stretched / tucked ( whatever position allows you to maintain a straight lower back 

By using these variations,  you change the type and angle of effort and thus vary the muscles, ligaments and joints engaged and conditioned.