Exercise Bike Advice-No more Running/Singles Tennis...

[TripleB]

Due to a recent injury and surgery* (see story below) I've been told that I should not be a runner or a singles tennis player in the future.

I am wanting to get an exercise bike to help with my physical therapy but also to use after that.

Can anyone explain the advantages and disadvantages of a recumbent versus an upright exercise bike?

Which is the recommended type for knee physical therapy?

Are there any specific models you can recommend?

Or would an elliptical machine be a better choice?

Thanks for any and all help you can give.

TripleB

* I'll try to make a long story not so long: Injured myself playing tennis, family doc thought it was a sprained ligament, week later went to orthopaedic doc, took MRI, turned out to be cartilage damage.

Had Microfracture Surgery Monday, alot more damage in there than doc thought, pulled out 6 large pieces of cartilage, repaired a good bit more damaged cartilage in several places, made 7 holes in my bone (I watched the video and counted...ugh) to create a 'good' blood clot to hopefully form new cartilage.

Can't put any weight on the leg for at least 6 weeks, on a CPM machine now, and physical therapy will begin in January.

Doc said that I couldn't be a runner or a singles tennis player any longer. If I tried then I would be back in his office in 6 months having knee replacement surgery.

If the procedure worked, physical therapy went well, and a future MRI showed positive results, I should be able to play doubles again 8 to 15 months down the road.

 

[El Diablo]

The question should only be directed at your surgeon. He's been inside your knee, only he knows the whole situation. Ask him. And don't do anything sooner that he tells you. If the goal is to see if some cartilage develops from the lesions he made, anything that grows there may be too fragile for some time to tolerate even the cycling. This is not the sort of thing you solicit marginally informed opinions about.

 

[TripleB]

And don't do anything sooner that he tells you. This is not the sort of thing you solicit marginally informed opinions about.

Definitely not going to push myself too quickly. CPM guy said I was doing better with it than 95% of the people that use it, which at first made me want to push a little harder, but I have since decided to back off the angle I have the machine and take the changes a lot slower. I want to make sure I don't have to go through this again so I'm going to be extra cautious as I go through my physical therapy.

Doc said bicycling would be a good substitute for running. I have another follow up appointment on 12/20 so I'll get more info on the time frame for everything at that point.

The point of this post was just to see what the pros and cons of each exercise bike are.

Thanks for your input.

TripleB