Cycling UK Forum

Could anyone offer advice on the above please? I'm due to have my hip replaced in early December, then t'other shortly after. I'm nearly 53 and still riding. Getting on and off is the most awkward and painfull part of the exercise. Would a ladies step through frame be helpfull in early post op' rides? Any advice on this would be gratefully received.
Thank you, Tim Young.

Not sure about the step thru idea though it sounds reasonable. Do not have 1st hand experience, but do know of plenty of cyclists who have a new lease of life after hip replacement. So good luck, good recovery and plenty of future miles.

You need to get advice from the occupational therapist and physiotherapist about this. (I'm an occupational therapist myself).

After a hip replacement, certain movements increase the risk of dislocation - bending the hip past 90 degrees, and crossing the operated leg over the midline.

http://www.hipsandknees.com/hip/hipprecautions.htm

http://www.hipreplacement.com/DePuy/doc ... ities.html

http://thehipdoc.com/hipprecautions.htm

http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/To ... cement.pdf

http://nih.dev.kramesonline.com/HealthSheets/3,S,82358

http://www.myjointreplacement.ca/while% ... lt.asp?s=1

I don't think you're going to be able to ride your bike for 6-12 weeks post-op, certainly not while you're still following precautions, because climbing onto the bike, men's frame or women's frame, will involve prohibited movements. Once you're past your precautions time, you should manage fine with either type of frame, and cycling will be good exercise for you.

The problem is going to be getting your leg over (mwahaha) the frame - it's hard to do it without bending your hip past 90 degrees. Unless you tilt the bike right over so you can get your leg over it without having to lift it too high. If you can do that safely, and repeat it for getting off again, you might manage while you're still in the post-op precautions phase.

Thankyou for your replies. I will be sticking to the schedule that the consultant and physio' have and will give me and I won't risk too many unnecessary manouvres at all. I will definitely be reading the info' arising from the links provided, later on tonight and find it very reassuring, not surprising tho', that this level of support and competence comes through from the CTC. It's one of the reasons that I joined after years in "solitary". I like the quip, "I can handle bars....". Very good.
Thanks again, very much, Tim.

Look under:
http://www.westkentctc.org.uk
and contact the member for the Sevenoaks section whom I believe has had a similar op'.

I've asked around some other occupational therapists and they've all said pretty much what I've said, although most are advising avoiding cycling for the duration of your specified post-op precautions period and a few weeks more. But nobody can agree on what the few weeks more should be. *rolls eyes*

The problems are

getting on and off - even with a step through frame, you're going to be flexing and rotating the hip past the safe limits

pedalling - even on an upright bike with a high saddle, you'll be leaning forward, which means your hip is already at an angle. Add the pedalling into that and every pedal stroke on your operated side will take your hip into the dangerous angles.

My advice would be resign yourself to no cycling during your precautions period, and have a good discussion with your orthopaedic surgeon, physio and OT about it to determine when you should be safe to go again.

I do hope everything goes well Tim and you're back on your bike soon after the op.
For around ten years now I've been trying to put off having replacement knees, as I am afraid that following the op I may not be able to continue cycling. I know too well how worrying these things can be. Good luck!

Knees should be ok - generally the advice is bend the new fake knees as much as possible. Have you talked it over with your orthopaedic consultant?

have you thought about converting a simple exercise bike so you could use it whilst seated in a supportive chair ? You can get them free from any tip or local jumble/boot sale for a £fiver or so

georgew wrote:I do hope everything goes well Tim and you're back on your bike soon after the op.
For around ten years now I've been trying to put off having replacement knees, as I am afraid that following the op I may not be able to continue cycling. I know too well how worrying these things can be. Good luck!

George, My wife (59) had a new right knee back in June. She is now riding on our tandem and is doing very well. She can even 'ankle', which she could not do before. The degradation with her old knee was not linear. Her ability dropped off remarkably. Please don't put a knee op' off. Get them done asap.

Tim, I spoke to a friend of mine who works in elective orthopaedics and deals with all the hip and knee replacement patients. She says no cycling after the 1st op until you've had the 2nd one too, and then not at all for 3 months. And when you start again, high saddle, flat routes.