Knee Injuries

I am just wondering if anyone out there knows an approximate timeline for getting back into cycling after knee surgery. I have just had an arthroscopy and am able to walk a week after surgery. Has anyone else been through this, and if someone has, can you let me know how long it took you to get back on your bike?

[one of the girls i work with had her knee done, and has been off the bike for a month so far, not sure when she is expected back on it, sorry dude, good luck though, its only just startign to fine up weather wise so dont get to bummed out, its not perfect riding weather yet..

Taek a look at www.kneeclinic.com.au. You will find some guidance among the downloads there.

These guys do all the Sydney footballers, and they have a reputation for being the best in the business. That is why I went there to have mine done a few years ago.

If you have a stationary trainer you could possibly try some light pedalling in a week or so, but I would be guided by your surgeon rather than some guy on the internet with shocking orange hair and a white coat like me.

Thanks guys. About the weather, here in Adelaide it is starting to warm up a bit. We have had quite a few days in the mid-20s with no real wind - great riding conditions. I start uni holidays next week as well so hopefully I can be back on the bike by the second week.

Did you not think to ask your doctor?!

I'd take the doc's advice a long way ahead of any website or previous patient. Everyone is different and the doc is the one with the expertise!

I have asked my doctor. He said up to a month. I will be seing him again soon and will ask again. The reason I ask is because my mum had the same surgery 2 months ago and can barely walk yet. I however had the surgery just over a week ago and am able to do pretty much everything (staircases cause some problems going down).

I was walking within a couple of days, but cannot recall how long it took to get back to serious exercise and I wasn't a cyclist then. I was (am) into surfing, and I think at about week 6 I tentatively ventured back into the water on a very small surf day on a bodyboard with short flippers (not that you'd ever call that surfing).

It took much longer to feel "safe" on the knee on a surfboard - more than a year - as the back knee is the one that all the torque is applied through on snaps, bottom turns and cutties and I twisted it a few times pulling moves on my backhand before it settled down fully.

The good thing about cycling is that it doesn't abuse your joints as much (unless you fall off), so I think you'll be back a lot sooner.

The kneeclinic site has some excellent rehab exercises that will speed your recovery by building up the muscles to align and support the joint while your ligaments return to their normal strength and size.

I'll reiterate the message! Take the advice of your othropod!

Recovery times depend on a lot of factors - premorbid health and functioning is only one. Some surgeries are complicated by adverse events, some of which can occur at any time. The same procedure in different people can have different outcomes, depending on these factors.

Your mother is a whole lot older and therefore her recovery times are going to be a whole lot longer than yours is likely to be. And the reasons for her arthroscopy were probably different to yours.

If you're doing most things now, then it probably won't be too long before you're back spinning. But, depenindg on why you had your scope, there could be other complications coming along - so get the all clear from your orthopod first!

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I'll second nerdag's advice. Your surgeon was the one who did the op, knows the condition of your knee and therefore is in the best position to advise you about when you can expect to return to full exercise.

One piece of advice ..... you can do yourself a whole lot of damage by getting overconfident and doing things too soon, so despite the fact that the weather is warming up and you are about to start holidays, take it easy and wait for the all-clear from your orthopod.

I am not stupid and I do plan to take the advice of my knee surgeon. The reason I started this thread was simply to find out what other people's experiences have been. I do not intend to take anything posted here as medical advice. It was just to get an approximate idea as to when I might get back on my bike.

Good man. Hasten slowly. Better to be slightly underdone than to overdo it and set yourself back. Keep us posed with your progress.

Good News!!


I got the OK from my doctor today so I am back on my bike but taking it easy.

Congratulations!!

Not sure what the weather is like in Melbourne, but it fantastic today (and last weekend) in Sydney. Perfect riding weather - great time to get back into it.