Re: Upright vs Recumbent exercise bike

[Guest guest]

Hello Marie,

I have been a avid cyclist and racer for about 18yrs and am about 7

weeks post-op. Don't worry about either bike the thing you need to

think about on either is not breaking the 90 degree rule till 12

weeks. On an upright bike that means raising the seat higher than

normal and the bars up so you don't bend over to far. Also you have

to decide if it's just a lifecycle type or spin bike with wt. wheel.

On the spin bike you have to be carefull not to clip-in to early in

your surgery because you can really hurt yourself if you miss cue

and the wheel does not stop right away can pull your operated leg

pretty hard. On the recubant bike the seat needs to be back again so

as not to break that rule. If you can seat on your bumm that long

more power to ya. At first early on just spin the legs without

resitance as to familarize the legs again to the rotation and feel

of going around. As you heal and get more strength back increase

pressure and resistance. I just started spin classes again at 7

weeks and I was in good cyling shape before surgery, but I have to

admit I was sore and hobbled a bit the next day. Got massage and

will get back on in another day.My wife won't let me ride outdoors

till 12 weeks because she does not want me to fall on my surgery

side. Can't blame her. So I will be bored indoors for now. Remember

2 slow steps forward and 1 step backwards if to much done. Hope this

helps

Mike

> Does anyone know which is better for getting back in shape after

> surgery: Upright vs Recumbant exercise bikes?

>

> I didn't know if one type might put too much stress on the hip

joint.

>

> Marie

[Guest guest]

Hello Marie,

I have been a avid cyclist and racer for about 18yrs and am about 7

weeks post-op. Don't worry about either bike the thing you need to

think about on either is not breaking the 90 degree rule till 12

weeks. On an upright bike that means raising the seat higher than

normal and the bars up so you don't bend over to far. Also you have

to decide if it's just a lifecycle type or spin bike with wt. wheel.

On the spin bike you have to be carefull not to clip-in to early in

your surgery because you can really hurt yourself if you miss cue

and the wheel does not stop right away can pull your operated leg

pretty hard. On the recubant bike the seat needs to be back again so

as not to break that rule. If you can seat on your bumm that long

more power to ya. At first early on just spin the legs without

resitance as to familarize the legs again to the rotation and feel

of going around. As you heal and get more strength back increase

pressure and resistance. I just started spin classes again at 7

weeks and I was in good cyling shape before surgery, but I have to

admit I was sore and hobbled a bit the next day. Got massage and

will get back on in another day.My wife won't let me ride outdoors

till 12 weeks because she does not want me to fall on my surgery

side. Can't blame her. So I will be bored indoors for now. Remember

2 slow steps forward and 1 step backwards if to much done. Hope this

helps

Mike

> Does anyone know which is better for getting back in shape after

> surgery: Upright vs Recumbant exercise bikes?

>

> I didn't know if one type might put too much stress on the hip

joint.

>

> Marie

[Guest guest]

The upright bike is better. There is too much flexion with the

recumbant.

Chris

> Does anyone know which is better for getting back in shape after

> surgery: Upright vs Recumbant exercise bikes?

>

> I didn't know if one type might put too much stress on the hip

joint.

>

> Marie

[Guest guest]

The upright bike is better. There is too much flexion with the

recumbant.

Chris

> Does anyone know which is better for getting back in shape after

> surgery: Upright vs Recumbant exercise bikes?

>

> I didn't know if one type might put too much stress on the hip

joint.

>

> Marie

[Guest guest]

> The upright bike is better. There is too much flexion with the

> recumbant.

I certainly found this to be the case. I tried to use a recombent

a couple of times *before* surgery and I didn't have the ROM to

pedal it, but I could adjust my upright so that I could use it.

Basically, I think either would be okay, as long as you can use it

without flexing past the 90 degree mark.

Obviously, short people are going to have an easier time finding

a usable bike than someone who is really tall.

Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

> The upright bike is better. There is too much flexion with the

> recumbant.

I certainly found this to be the case. I tried to use a recombent

a couple of times *before* surgery and I didn't have the ROM to

pedal it, but I could adjust my upright so that I could use it.

Basically, I think either would be okay, as long as you can use it

without flexing past the 90 degree mark.

Obviously, short people are going to have an easier time finding

a usable bike than someone who is really tall.

Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)

[Guest guest]

My PT told me to use the recumbant and to move the seat really close

so I really have to hold my knees in tight and move them up as close

to my body as possible. He claims that gives a larger ROM to help

stretch out everything post surgery.

> Does anyone know which is better for getting back in shape after

> surgery: Upright vs Recumbant exercise bikes?

>

> I didn't know if one type might put too much stress on the hip

joint.

>

> Marie

[Guest guest]

I used a recumbent bike for PT. Because I had extreme balance issues (I

had tendons released in addition to the resurfacing, and my brain had to

re-learn a lot), I would not have been safe on an upright bike. My muscles

were so tight though, that even with the seat back as far as it could go, I

could not make a full rotation. So I did five minutes of pendulum swings

with the pedals instead. It took about a week of those before I could

actually make a rotation. I also used a treadmill for short bits, but their

treadmill on it's slowest speed was slightly faster than I was able to

walk. I did the treadmill for as long as I could without falling off the

back end of it-lol.

Pre-op, I found a recumbent bike very uncomfortable, although " everyone "

said it would be easier and better for my hips. Post-op, I still prefer an

upright, probably out of habit, but am able to ride a recumbent.

Cindy

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01