1. Seat access and transfer
This is the specification that decides most clinical purchases, and it is the one most product pages bury.
- Removable seat. Only the PhysioStep PRO has one. The 20 inch seat lifts out entirely so a patient trains directly from their wheelchair. If you treat patients who cannot transfer, this is the machine.
- 360 degree swivel seat. The PhysioStep PRO, MDX, and LXT all rotate their 20 inch seats a full circle, so a user sits down sideways and then turns to face forward instead of shuffling in past a frame. For anyone with hip restrictions or balance loss, this cuts fall risk more than any other single feature.
- Step-through or walk-through only. The CyclePlus and PhysioCycle XT have open frames with no crossbar, but the seats do not rotate. Fine for a home user who walks in unaided. Not enough for a clinic treating transfer dependent patients.
On seat height: Health Care International does not publish a floor-to-seat figure for any of these units, and we will not guess at one. If seat height is the deciding measurement for your patients or your ADA review, call us and we will measure the specific unit before it ships.
2. Stroke length and motion type
These five machines move the legs in three different ways, and the difference matters more than resistance levels do.
- Adaptive stepping, 0 to 8 inches (PhysioStep PRO). Each leg steps independently, and the stroke can start at literally zero. That lets a therapist isolate a weaker side after a stroke or a unilateral surgery, and start a patient at a range of motion they can actually reach.
- User controlled stepping, 1 to 12 inches (PhysioStep LXT). A linear 2:1 contralateral stepping motion, closer to a walking pattern than a pedal circle. The user sets the depth of each step, so range grows naturally as they recover.
- Fixed 12 inch elliptical stride (PhysioStep MDX). A true seated elliptical path that engages upper and lower body together. Smooth and continuous, but the stride is not adjustable, so it suits users who already have the range.
- Standard cycle motion (CyclePlus and PhysioCycle XT). Circular pedaling with a fixed crank. No stroke length to set. Best for conditioning and endurance rather than range of motion work.
3. Weight capacity
Capacity climbs steeply with price here, and it is worth checking against your actual population rather than an average. The PhysioStep PRO and MDX rate to 500 lbs, the LXT to 450 lbs, the CyclePlus to 400 lbs, and the PhysioCycle XT to 300 lbs. If you run a bariatric program or a clinic with no upper cut-off, the 300 lb rating on the PhysioCycle XT will limit you no matter how attractive the price is.
4. Footprint and room planning
Every unit here is 60 to 65 inches long. That number alone will not tell you whether it fits.
- A swivel seat needs clearance to rotate. Budget roughly 30 inches of open floor on the access side of the PhysioStep PRO, MDX, or LXT, or the swivel feature is wasted.
- The MDX is the widest at 32 inches. The PhysioStep PRO and CyclePlus are the narrowest at 24 inches, which matters when you are lining machines up along a wall.
- Height runs from 40 inches on the LXT to 52 inches on the PhysioCycle XT. The taller units carry vertical arm assemblies, so check for low ceilings, soffits, and sprinkler heads.
- Measure your doorway. These ship in large sections and freight crews deliver curbside, not into the room.
Compare our five models
PhysioStep PRO (SXT-1100), $5,695
- Seat access: 20 inch seat, 360 degree swivel, and it removes entirely for wheelchair training.
- Motion: independent stepping, one leg at a time. Adaptive 0 to 8 inch stroke.
- Resistance 1 to 16. Max user weight 500 lbs. Footprint 65 x 24 x 44 inches.
- Best fit: PT clinic. Stroke, post-surgical, and any protocol that needs one side isolated.
PhysioStep MDX (RXT-1000), $4,295
- Seat access: 20 inch seat, 360 degree swivel, 14 fore and aft positions. Does not remove.
- Motion: seated elliptical working arms and legs. Fixed 12 inch elliptical stride.
- Resistance 1 to 16. Max user weight 500 lbs. Footprint 60 x 32 x 44 inches.
- Best fit: clinic or active aging. Full body low-impact cardio with easy access.
PhysioStep LXT (LXT-700), $3,995
- Seat access: 20 inch seat, 360 degree swivel. Fits users 4 ft 6 in to 6 ft 4 in.
- Motion: linear 2:1 contralateral stepping. User controlled 1 to 12 inch stroke.
- Resistance 1 to 32. Max user weight 450 lbs. Footprint 60 x 30 x 40 inches.
- Best fit: senior living, clinic, serious home. Walking pattern cardio with the finest resistance steps.
CyclePlus (CP-400), $2,695
- Seat access: walk-through frame, 17 inch seat, 25 fore and aft positions. No swivel.
- Motion: circular pedaling plus rotating arm handles. Standard cycle motion.
- Resistance 1 to 32. Max user weight 400 lbs. Footprint 63 x 24 x 51 inches.
- Best fit: home and light clinic. Best capacity per dollar, self powered.
PhysioCycle XT (XT-800), $2,495
- Seat access: step-through frame, 15 fore and aft seat positions. No swivel. Fits users 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 3 in.
- Motion: circular pedaling with the arms linked to the legs. Standard cycle motion.
- Resistance 1 to 8. Max user weight 300 lbs. Footprint 60 x 25 x 52 inches.
- Best fit: home and light clinic. Lowest entry price for linked arm and leg training.
Which one fits your setting
Physical therapy clinic or rehab center
Buy for the hardest patient you treat, not the average one. If any part of your caseload cannot transfer out of a wheelchair, the PhysioStep PRO is the only machine here that solves it, and its 0 inch starting stroke covers an early recovery stage nothing else reaches. If your caseload transfers fine but needs full body conditioning, the MDX does more work per session for $1,400 less.
Senior living, wellness center, or active aging program
The LXT is usually the right answer. The linear stepping pattern feels like walking, which residents accept faster than a pedal circle, and 32 resistance steps let a very deconditioned user start at something they can actually turn. The 360 degree swivel seat is the feature your staff will thank you for.
Home use
For a home recovery, the honest question is what you are recovering from. Rebuilding general endurance after surgery or a cardiac event: the CyclePlus at $2,695 gives 400 lb capacity, 32 resistance steps, and self powered operation. Working around a weaker side or limited range under a therapist's home program: step up to the LXT, because adjustable stroke length is the feature that actually changes the outcome. Want arm and leg work at the lowest price and you weigh under 300 lbs: the PhysioCycle XT.
Want help picking between these five?
We have sold rehab cardio equipment since 2009 to clinics, senior living communities, schools, and home buyers. Tell us the patient population, the room dimensions, and the budget, and we will tell you which one to buy. Request a quote or call (855) 228-7348, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm ET. Purchase orders and tax exempt orders welcome.