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A good friend has just had a hip replacement at 52 and has been amazed at how quick she was up and about after it, she was walking 3000 steps a day after 8-9 days and is on the turbo at 3 weeks after.
She is using turbo, but placed a mountain bike on there so not closing hip angle like on a road bike, and she lowered saddle slightly so hip is under less strain and placed flat pedals on, just doing 10-15 mins at a time at the moment and just spinning with little resistance.
I’m going to buy second hand from FB marketplace or similar- but what to buy?
If it was me, I'd be looking at a Keiser – by far the best exercise bike I have used. They can be very expensive though if you want a good condition one.
Congrats! Take it easy...
I’m not allowed to cycle but can use an exercise bike but not a turbo.
I hate this sort of vague advice that seems like they either don't know what they're talking about, or don't give you enough information to help you avoid the actual issue!
I'd want to know what exactly they're concerned about - Are they assuming a turbo would have a road bike on it and don't want you in the hunched/aero position that it would give you? I'm sure you could get that position on an exercise bike if you didn't know you were supposed to avoid it. Do they not like the idea that you might go hard on a turbo, but guess that you'd use an exercise bike a bit more sedately? - big assumption! Or that they don't want you swinging a leg over the back of a bike on a turbo, but exercise bikes are usually step-through? Guessing they don't want you cycling outside in case something unexpected happens and you strain something trying to save yourself.
As per scud's friend, if you've got a mtb or a shopper to keep you upright and a a step to get you on/over (a dropper would be very helpful too), that might get you round what they're concerned about, and let you look at turbos as well as exercise bikes - someone might even be able to lend you one for a month or so. Fitting the biggest bum-sofa saddle you can find will let you just sit up and spin "no hands" for a good while. I did that post shoulder op.
Oops, sorry for the delay getting back. The issue is that I am not allowed to raise my knee above my hip, i.e. have my femur at less than 90 degrees to my torso for fear of dislocation. This would need an upright 'sit up and beg' position on a bike.
The medics are adamant about all this and I am keen to follow their advice. A step through type machine will not put undue stress on the joint whereas a bike mounted onto a turbo would involve me lifting and swinging my leg too high and too far out. I've too much experience of dislocated shoulders and of wrecked hips; the thought of the two combined is not nice at all.
Rent a wattbike. They are step through. A few companies do this.
https://www.hirefitness.co.uk/home-fitness-equipment-hire/exercise-bikes/watt-bike-trainer/
Alternatively, mount by standing on the left and swinging the right leg over the handlebars rather than the saddle. This should not raise the knee above the hip if you have a modest saddle to bar drop.
these popped up recently on my memories.
