Cycling before and after knee replacement surgery

If you’re a keen cyclist, you may wonder whether you’ll have to give up riding your bike after partial or total knee surgery. In this blog, we’ll be taking a closer look at the best ways you can prepare your body to get back on your bike again once your knee surgery is complete.

Before your surgery

Gentle cycling can be a great form of low impact exercise as you prepare for knee surgery. Conditioning your body can help speed up your recovery.

Riding a stationary cycle does not put too much weight on the knee. Riding an exercise bike gently can build strength in the affected knee without putting too much stress on the joint. However, start slowly and stop cycling immediately if you’re in any pain.

After your surgery

For the first few weeks after your surgery, if your goal is to get back on your bike, getting your body back in motion is of utmost importance. Riding an exercise bike can actually be a beneficial form of physical therapy after a knee procedure to prepare you for cycling outdoors again.

Start gently and properly adjust the bike to ensure that your knee is bent slightly at the lowest part of the pedal by extending the seat height.

At first, you may not be able to achieve a full turn of the pedals. Don’t let this put you off (unless you’re in too much pain) and simply rock the pedals back and forth to build up your strength. Your range of motion should improve quickly, but be prepared to do this gently for a few weeks. After about six weeks, many knee surgery patients will be able to start thinking about cycling outdoors again.

Discuss your progress with your healthcare provider and follow any agreed exercise and therapy plans to avoid injury. If you loved cycling before knee surgery, keeping a clear goal in mind to return to the road and cycle track can be a great motivator to keep you focussed on your recovery.

If you’re looking for a specialist knee surgeon in Manchester, call Mr Arun Kumar today.