Just had a total knee replacement and the surgeon recommends a commitment of 30 minutes/day for life on an exercise bike to keep the new joint healthy. I'm looking for input from anyone using one regularly, and I am 99.9% sure I want a recumbent. We have an older NordicTrack recumbent that was supposedly top shelf in it's day....I had to quit using it 3+ years ago because of the knee pain, and it requires stepping over the mechanism to get on it. Newer ones I've seen have an open platform between the seat and the resistance wheel, making it easier to get on them. Our oldest son wants the NordicTrack, so I am inclined to oblige him and look for a new one for myself. Thanks for sharing any of your experiences with these.
Recumbent Exercise Bike
- Thread starter LMTC
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I would recommend AGAINST !!!
There are just too many negatives to list and about the only (perceived) positive is that it can be ridden with little/no "weight" on the knee joint.
That is an illusion, since to move forwards you have to "apply force" to the pedals through the knees anyway, so the knee is still essentially "weight bearing".
My wife has been through two knee replacement surgeries, both successful.
One more thing about bikes of all types, they allow you to support a weak leg with the stronger one, e.g. you COULD build up the other one substantially and find the one with the new knee atrophies.
Having seen my wife go through this twice, I would just WALK if it ever comes to knee replacement(s) for me.
You have to do that ANYWAY and a bike doesn't do much more than the continuous motion machine that runs your leg up and down in the hospital bed - like a piston on a con rod (-:
You don't get to fully straighten the knee on any bike.
Clint S
Veteran Member
I use one every day for my job. I am a physical therapist. I work with all sorts of folks, knee and hip replacements included. The doctor, who I assumed has done many, many replacements would not have told you to use the bike if they do not work. They cause less stress on the joint than walking and provide range of motion that is needed to keep the knee healthy. Although walking is wonderful exercise you get little range of motion. It is not the straightening of the leg or extension you really need to worry about, it is the bending or flexion that gives the most trouble. You also get far less than your body weight for stress on a bike. You are bearing weight through your leg, but that is not a bad thing at all. There is really no way you are going to atrophy your knee by using a bike unless you do not use the affected leg at all. Ever try to pedal any sort of bike with one leg only, it is quite difficult. With any sort of exercise, walking or the bike you will still need to do the specific stretches and exercises given to you by your doctor or therapist.
It is about impact and a bike has less of it. Other pros are you can use it year round even if it is raining or cold out. Could just walking get the job done???? Sure it could, especially with a stretching and exercise program. Is a recumbent bike a good piece of equipment to use after a knee replacement??? It sure is, especially if used in conjunction with a stretching and exercise program including walking.
It is about impact and a bike has less of it. Other pros are you can use it year round even if it is raining or cold out. Could just walking get the job done???? Sure it could, especially with a stretching and exercise program. Is a recumbent bike a good piece of equipment to use after a knee replacement??? It sure is, especially if used in conjunction with a stretching and exercise program including walking.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I had a total knee replacement (right knee) Aug. 30 of last year. When I was going to the physical therapists afterwards, I started each session with 10 minutes on their recumbent bike, but of course that was a $2,000 machine. After shopping around quite a bit, I bought a Pro-Form XP 400 R. You do have to step over to get on it, but that's not been a problem. And for quite awhile I was doing 30 minutes each day, and even an hour at times, but I don't do much anymore; frequenlty 5 or 10 minutes at a time. However, I've been quite happy with the machine.
Thanks Bird. There are several bikes in the 2k-5k range....probably clinic or health club durability. I am hoping to find something well recommended in the $500-700 range. Bird, it looks like the Pro-Form has a chair type seat rather than a typical bike seat. Is that so, and if so, how do you like it in comparison to a bike seat?
No offense intended to anyone, but I either trust my doc or I don't. Fact is, I do. I don't have the time left in my life to go to medical school, internship, and then gain 20 years of surgical experience to have the knowledge to dispute his recommendations. First doc I have ever known who will NOT accept a patient for joint replacement if the patient will not agree to doing follow ups for at least 6 years (no cost, most can even be done by phone); he collects data/info on his patients and uses it to revise his pre-op and post-op protocols. The guy is a craftsman.
What I really wanted was info on experience with specific bikes, not a critique of my surgeon's recommendations. BTW, he does not use the CPM machines at all.....his patients are out of bed 3-5 hours post-op, and have their first PT session in that same time range. I had surgery (complete knee, tibia already partially eroded) app. 8AM on a Tuesday, awake around 11, in a room by 12:30 or so, out of bed by 5PM, PT & OT Wed AM, discharged around 3:30PM Wednesday....and I am 62 and overweight. I began walking without walker or cane Friday (16 days post-op) though I do tire easily. I think he knows what he's doing.
No offense intended to anyone, but I either trust my doc or I don't. Fact is, I do. I don't have the time left in my life to go to medical school, internship, and then gain 20 years of surgical experience to have the knowledge to dispute his recommendations. First doc I have ever known who will NOT accept a patient for joint replacement if the patient will not agree to doing follow ups for at least 6 years (no cost, most can even be done by phone); he collects data/info on his patients and uses it to revise his pre-op and post-op protocols. The guy is a craftsman.
What I really wanted was info on experience with specific bikes, not a critique of my surgeon's recommendations. BTW, he does not use the CPM machines at all.....his patients are out of bed 3-5 hours post-op, and have their first PT session in that same time range. I had surgery (complete knee, tibia already partially eroded) app. 8AM on a Tuesday, awake around 11, in a room by 12:30 or so, out of bed by 5PM, PT & OT Wed AM, discharged around 3:30PM Wednesday....and I am 62 and overweight. I began walking without walker or cane Friday (16 days post-op) though I do tire easily. I think he knows what he's doing.
Inspector507
Super Member
Wayne the ones I used most during my cardiac rehab were of the chair type. It just felt better than the bike seat ones.
Bird
Rest in Peace
These doctors do tend to do things differently. My doctor does these knee replacements on Monday mornings, uses the CPM the rest of that day and night, up with the therapist Tuesday morning, still use the CPM at night Tuesday and Wednesday and go home Thursday afternoon after a big "graduation" lunch for the patient and spouse or friend. Home therapist 5 days a week for 2 weeks, follow-up in his office, then outpatient therapists for a month, but see him after 2 weeks. Then see him one year after the surgery, so I did that this past Aug. 30 and they made x-rays, said everything looks good and he said he wants to see me again in 5 years. Another doctor in the same office does his surgeries on Tuesday mornings and his patients go home Friday afternoon. Before I had the surgery, I asked the doctor how many he'd done and he said "over a thousand".
And my physical therapist said to be sure to sit on any recumbent bike you consider and find one that's comfortable or you won't use it. And yes, I like the wide seat on mine. I've never used any of those exercise "programs" it has. And I never pay any attention to it's estimate of calories burned. I just turn the dial, usually about one and a half revolutions to increase the resistance a bit, and then the only thing I look at on the monitor is the speed I'm peddling (constant display) and the top display which alternates every few seconds between the time I've been peddling and the distance I would have gone.
And my physical therapist said to be sure to sit on any recumbent bike you consider and find one that's comfortable or you won't use it. And yes, I like the wide seat on mine. I've never used any of those exercise "programs" it has. And I never pay any attention to it's estimate of calories burned. I just turn the dial, usually about one and a half revolutions to increase the resistance a bit, and then the only thing I look at on the monitor is the speed I'm peddling (constant display) and the top display which alternates every few seconds between the time I've been peddling and the distance I would have gone.
Bird
Rest in Peace
By the way, Wayne, my recumbent bike came in a box from Sears. I couldn't believe that their computer showed a cost of about $200 to deliver and assemble it. The young salesman said he'd do it himself for $50 but it would be several days before he had the time to do it. So I just had them put it in my little Ford Ranger and I brought it home. I have a 2-wheel dolly, so I slid it off the truck onto the dolly and took it around the house to my shop myself. That was on Sept. 28, less than a month after the surgery. The manual said you needed 2 people to assemble it; not true. I guess there's a couple of places a helper might be some help, and my wife told me to let her know if I wanted her to help. I was in no hurry, took my time, read all the instructions, and took nearly 2 hours to do it all alone.
Sure wish I could deliver and assemble them for $200 a pop, or even $100.:laughing:
Sure wish I could deliver and assemble them for $200 a pop, or even $100.:laughing:
Thanks Jerry & Bird. I too am inclined toward the chair type seat, and probably do need to go sit on one.....I was just getting antsy and wanted to order one now. Probably not the wisest thing to do. My surgeon is the head of the Joint Replacement Center at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati. He has a custom designed OR (computer assisted and robotics "stuff") for his use. My understanding is he does an average of 12 a week. He is in his mid-40s (my best guess). I doubt ANY of them have everything perfect....I firmly believe medicine is indeed "practice", and as much art as science. As such, I have great respect for his approach to constantly looking for ways to improve the process and the patient experience.
Just know that recumbent bikes can be kinda tricky at a stop.
If/when you start to topple you can't "put a foot down" in quite the same way as you can from a "regular" bike.
You are essentially half way on your back - think this through, a 10 (now 24, 27 or some HUGE number) speed may be a MUCH better idea.
Less to learn, you learned it all as a kid, etc.
Not saying you can't learn to save it in a potential topple, just that you will have a new recovery skill to learn.
BTW, I overstated the atrophy thing, but I do have a substantially larger left calf as a result of biking for a right leg injury rehab.
It is noticeable, but it is only a "problem" for riding boots, either the left is way too small or the right is way too big.
Where "riding boots" means horse riding boots, which are tight fitted and zip to above calf height.
Whatever you do and however you do it I wish you well in all this.
I agree that absolute faith in your medical professional is essential.
If/when you start to topple you can't "put a foot down" in quite the same way as you can from a "regular" bike.
You are essentially half way on your back - think this through, a 10 (now 24, 27 or some HUGE number) speed may be a MUCH better idea.
Less to learn, you learned it all as a kid, etc.
Not saying you can't learn to save it in a potential topple, just that you will have a new recovery skill to learn.
BTW, I overstated the atrophy thing, but I do have a substantially larger left calf as a result of biking for a right leg injury rehab.
It is noticeable, but it is only a "problem" for riding boots, either the left is way too small or the right is way too big.
Where "riding boots" means horse riding boots, which are tight fitted and zip to above calf height.
Whatever you do and however you do it I wish you well in all this.
I agree that absolute faith in your medical professional is essential.