Getting the Most Out of a Stationary Bike After Knee Surgery

by Mike McClellan

Question: How can I maintain the gains I’ve achieved in Range of Motion and leg strength after my in-home X10 Therapy rehabilitation is complete?

Only X10 Therapy monitors, records and graphs your daily rehabilitation progress in Range of Motion and Leg Strength. Here are some recommendations on how to optimize and maintain your progress.

Starting X10 Therapy prior to surgery delivers faster and better post-surgery results

Our studies show that starting X10 Therapy at least one week prior to surgery (aka “Pre-hab”) enables patients to regain lost strength before surgery and accelerates their recovery after surgery.

Post-Surgery Rehabilitation Phase: X10’s data driven approach.

Once our patients have reached acceptable levels of both Range of Motion and Strength (usually in 2-4 weeks) we recommend continuing your daily therapy until you reach a plateau over several days with no setbacks.

A Stationary Bike can help you maintain your newly gained strength and flexibility:

You are ready to go back to the activities of daily living, but how can you prevent regressing once your X10 Therapy has ended?  Several of our patients have found that a stationary bike can help patients keep the extension, flexion and strength they’ve worked so hard to achieve during X10 Therapy.

X10 Therapy and a stationary bike were a winning combination for Melissa

One of the most exciting stationary bike brands out there today is Peloton. Melissa used her Peloton both before and after bilateral knee replacement.

At age 47 she was able to take full advantage of the stationary bike for strength training, and even for knee range of motion. Melissa shares her thoughts in this video shot four weeks after surgery.

The Stationary Bike

A stationary bike is one of the most useful and convenient tools you can use, whether recovering from a knee surgery or just trying to get/stay in shape. They are so accepted as a workout staple that almost all therapy clinics and gyms have them. If you buy one you will have the luxury of owning a tool that can single-handedly build your leg strength, cardiovascular endurance, and support knee joint mobility and stability. Around 110 degrees is generally the range of motion you will need to be able to perform all common daily activities, so if you can comfortably pedal a stationary bike all the way around then you are well on your way to a full recovery. I present here how you can get the most out of a stationary bike after knee surgery.

The first step in using a stationary bike - ensuring you have a proper setup

* Seat Height: A basic stationary bike will allow you to adjust the seat height up and down. You want the seat to be at a height where when your foot is at its lowest point throughout the pedaling motion, with the balls of your feet on the pedals, there is slight bend in your knee (about 5-10 degrees).

* Some higher-end bikes will have more advanced settings you can adjust, such as seat angle, seat position (seat slides forwards or backwards), and handlebar position (up/down and forwards/backwards).

* Seat Angle: You always want the seat angle to be parallel to the floor so you aren’t having to reach too far for the handlebars or sliding off the seat while pedaling.