who uses a pedal exerciser?

Hi sally

I'm 11wks and bought one off eBay @about 8 weeks. I used it 5 mins a time and gradually increased as it became easier. I now do roughly 20-30 mins one or twice a day while reading or watching a movie

I paid $25 (second hand but hardly used) It's quite sturdy and gives time /distance /calories etc.

They're pretty reasonable and very handy.

Hi Sally, I started to use an exercise bike in my gym at 6 weeks with the seat at the highest so that my feet only just reached the pedals and with no resistance.  At first I could barely do one revolution and found pedalling backwards helped before I achieved my first forward revolution.  After that, I never looked back.  Within a week I was pedalling for 15 mins and lowering the seat to increase the bend.  I swear that the increased blood flow to the knee speeded up the healing.  I am now 9 weeks in and using the exercise bike three times a week and following up with the jets of a hot jacuzi bubbling on my knee (heaven). I'm walking the dog daily between 2 and 5 miles without aids.  The knee stills feels weaker than the other and I still have problems at night but I'm told I am making excellent progress.   I cannot recommend pedalling enough but it should be on a good quality model (like in a gym) with suitable supervision at first.

Hi Sally

I had a knee arthroscopy resulting in repairs to the cartilage and microfracture surgery.  In week 3 my physio did a bike test with me to see if I could turn the pedals on an exercise (spinning) bike and recommended I start pedalling initially 10-15 mins at a time.  I purchased an exercise bike for home but had some problems with it, so as an interim step I purchased a pedal exerciser from amazon.

It's been good for me. Longer term i don't think it is as good as a bike, but at those earlier stages of recovery it's brilliant.  The model I purchased is reasonably sturdy, with a little bit of resistance.  The only thing I found an issue was that I was using it from a dining room chair, and once I got up to 15 mins at a time it was putting pressure on my coccyx in a way that you don't get with a regular bike.   

I would definitely recommend it to get you started though (under supervision from physio).

Good luck with your recovery!

HI Sally I bought one that I use eye-catching telly,after 3 weeks I started using it for 5 mins 3 times s day along with my other exercises from my

physio.I then progressed to 15 mins 3 times a day and also walk for an hour every day with just one stick now .lm 63# I had both the knees done at the

same time 16 weeks ago ,and I now feel they are my own .persevere and you can't go wrong no pain no gain '

Hi Sally. I started bike after 4 weeks under physio instructions I do 5 mins three times a week. I use the gyms then go for hydrotherapy after. As mentioned by others I started with raised seat but now it's lower and I get a full revolution. It's helping as I can now walk properly up stairs at 5 week 2 days. Good luck and progressing with care.

Robert