cyclist2000

I am recovering from a hip/leg surgery and am having problems swinging my leg over the seat or lifting my foot over the top tube to get on. Do you know of any exercises to help accelerate the mobility in the hip joint?

I would prefer not to have responses like getting an step through or trike or recumbent since I have so many current bikes that have a triangle frame.

noimagination

Didn't your surgeon refer you to a physical therapist? If not, that's terrible - I'd call his office and ask for a referral, and chew him out while I was at it. If yes, then this question is properly asked of your PT, not of some random people on an internet forum who could, while well meaning, offer you advice that could delay your recovery or possibly make your situation worse.

10 Wheels

how old are you?

cyclist2000

My surgeon did, but they (the PT) didn’t work on swinging my leg over a bike.

Thank you for your opinion.

cyclist2000

65

noimagination

IME, PTs are much nicer to deal with than doctors. They are more willing to listen to the patient, are more open to trying different things, and are often excited to be asked to help the patient do things outside the bounds of "normal" therapy. I'd encourage you to bring your bike to your next PT appointment and ask them for exercises to help with getting on the bike. I would guess that would make the PT's day.

pennstater

I am a 69 y.o. three weeks post hip replacement surgery. I haven't ridden yet but I was enable to get my good leg over the handlebars rather than lifting the leg with surgery over the saddle.
Osseointegration of the implants takes a while so I am being careful not to over do it until my 6 week follow-up visit. I could barely get on the bike before the surgery so things are looking up.

cyclist2000

That's great, I have gotten my leg over the saddle on my gravel bike but have trouble with my Ebike. It may be because it is so heavy, and I am worried about tilting it too much, also this was one of the first times that I have ever ridden it.

kahn

Would standing on a curb with the bike down at street level help - it effectively lowers the bike's overall height. I put my back out a few weeks ago and this is how I get on at the moment. I can get off without playing this game. I've also found that I can stand the bike next to a supportive object like a tree that I can lean on and it helps provide the balance. I also found that using panniers rather than a rear truck makes it easier to swing my foot over/behind the saddle without the truck hanging me up.

And then work on flexibility.

By the way my right hip has been replaced twice!

Good luck.

Chandne

Also, consider a wireless dropper.

KerryIrons

My suggestion would be to tilt the bike as a way to lower the top tube. With the advice to go back to your PT and talk to them, that should do it. If you think the eBike might be too heavy, have someone spot your while you try it as a way to find out. Whatever you do, don't give up. As my GP told me, recovery from this sort of thing is 90% the patient and 10% the surgeon. Work on it and continue to work on it. You'll be happy you did.

holytrousers

kahn

It is a good thing stress is good because his pacing is stressing me out!

Calsun

What provided the best results initially was a visit to a physical therapist who was trained in the Pressure Release Technique. Scar tissue forms around the artificial hip and the PT needs to help with releasing the hip connective tissue. After that it is important to do regular stretching exercises (which my wife does while sitting on the floor) to keep everything loose.

Surgeons have little concern and no knowledge of post surgery physical therapy. Unless a PT knows PRT they are also relatively worthless. In our experience one in six physical therapists knows what is required for recovery. A separate but related problem is when people have a very low pain threshold and won't let the PT do the necessary stretching.