rickwtx

I just had both knees replaced 6 weeks ago. I'll be getting back on a bike with 2-3 weeks, but my local shop had no idea what adjustments to make due to knee replacement. Basically I'm semi-normal, but with a reduced range-of-motion (about 100-110 degrees and increasing slowly). I figured someone else has probably already gone thru this and has some wisdom they can share.

I'm also starting from scratch and buying a bike (used most likely) so recommendations on that too are appreciated. When I blew my right knee out initially (racing some members of the Mexican National Team, I'm an idiot) I was riding a Trek 5200 USPS, but I'll never be that guy again. Been off a bike for 9 years now.

metalheart44

My right knee was replaced in January 2015, my left in August 2015. Before surgery I reduced crank length from 172.5 to 170 to encourage more spinning and recently a fitter recommended 165s (I am 5-11 with a 31" inseam). I was on the bike about 8 weeks after the first surgery and about 10 after the second. My legs were more straight and one effect was an increase in saddle height: I went from about 70.5cm to 73cm currently. During recovery and increased saddle height does help with what may be some limited range of motion, that is where I would start and making sure your increased saddle height is not causing any other soft tissue issues.

I would also pay special attention to your foot position in the shoe, just ensure that you do not have any pronation that was not there before> For whatever reasons I began probating on my left foot after surgery and I now use a couple of wedges in my cleats to deal with some funky leg motion.

DO not under-estimate the time it takes to fully heal from this surgery. I felt great after I was on the bike again and thought I was doing a conservative increase in distance and intensity, but I did develop some soft tissue issues in my left leg that were a result of over-use too early. Strength training for your glues, quads, and hip flexors as well as overall leg flexibility will make a full return to cycling less likely to cause any problems later.

Depending on how comfortable you are with making fit adjustments, it is not a bad idea to find a good fitter, preferably with some physical therapy or anatomical knowledge, to help with your post-surgery positioning on the bike. It may take awhile before you are ready for that because it just takes some time to get used to what may be a whole new pedaling stroke.

Good luck!

rickwtx

thanks for the responses. I'm trying to wait til weeks 8 to 10 before I get back on, doing lots of stretches and bending before hand. Now that my legs are straight I'm hoping I won't have my old right-foot-rotating i used to have. A doctor riding behind once commented he'd never seen so much rotation per revolution. Joing the local Y today and hoping to get my legs back into some shape by week #10 post-surgery.

metalheart44

In addition to the usual rehab work, very early after surgery I used the bike on a trainer to help with increasing range of motion. I raised my saddle and just rocked back and forth until i could make a full revolution then once or so a day I spent time just pedaling under no to light load. It helped significantly to return range of motion and reassure me that I could cycle again. Eight weeks was about the earliest I felt comfortable in going out on the roads again and even then I was cautious, but it worked out. The main point is not to push too much too soon and delay recovery with a series of set backs, something that seems to be very usual for those of us with knee replacements. Good luck and keep riding....