Is Exercising On a Bike Okay After Hip Surgery?

After having an important surgery such as a hip replacement it is essential you rest for weeks after the hip replacement surgery to allow yourself to recover. 

You can indeed ride an exercise bike after a hip replacement but you must make sure you take it slowly, we would also suggest choosing a recumbent bike over other types of bikes due to the shape of the bike seat which is easier to get on and off.

Down below in our short guide we’ve discussed whether or not an exercise bike is a good idea after a hip replacement, the type of exercise you can do on these indoor cycling bikes and when to start cycling again after your replacement, we’ve also included a few tips for helping you reintegrate cycling back into your exercise routine.

Should I Use An Exercise Bike After a Hip Replacement? 

Physical activity is recommended after a hip replacement as it helps rebuild hip muscle strength after surgery, many people shy away from exercise equipment for months after surgery but an exercise bike can be beneficial when used right. 

Exercise bikes can be set with different levels of resistance to gradually grow your strength and are not high impact on your hip joints like running. They also help with blood circulation and stop too much scar tissue from the surgery building up.

How To Use An Exercise Bike After a Hip Replacement 

Stationary bike biking should be done carefully after having a hip replacement, the last thing you want is to overexert yourself or reinjure yourself a couple of weeks after surgery. 

We’ve listed a step by step guide to getting back into riding your exercise bike after a hip replacement below. 

1. Make sure your seat is at the right level on your indoor bike, keep your foot on the pedal so that your knee is almost straight. 
2. Next pedal backwards to take pressure off your hip, gradually you will be able to start pedalling forwards again.
3. Gradually start increasing the levels of resistance and time spent on your exercise bike over the coming weeks. 

When Should I Start Exercising After My Hip Replacement?

There is a period after your hip replacement surgery where you need to recover, exercising on an exercise bike is not recommended during this period and rest should be taken. 

The amount of time you wait before restarting the exercise again depends on your physical therapist judgement, most of the time this will be within 2-3 weeks after your surgery but for some people, it can be sooner or longer depending on your range of motion. 

Tips For Riding An Exercise Bike After a Hip Replacement 

If you are a little nervous about getting back on an exercise bike after hip replacement then is normal, to help you out, we’ve listed some tips and tricks to help below. 

• Choose a recumbent exercise bike – A recumbent bike is the best for exercise rehabilitation after hip surgery as it is a lower impact and doesn’t strain the hip as much on an upright bike. These bikes are also easier to get on and off since there is less chance of falling. 
• Use the resistance levels – One of the best parts about exercise bikes is that they can help with progressive resistance. First of all, you can start with light resistance, work your way to moderate resistance more, this helps you to slowly build up the function range with your hip and muscle.
• Avoid crossing and raising the hip – There are precautions you should take after having hip surgery, one is to avoid flexing your hip over 90-degrees and never cross your surgery leg over the other.
• Go slow – Never push yourself too much when first using your exercise bike, work with tolerable resistance and stop if you feel any pain.

Final Words

Overall, you can indeed ride an exercise bike after having a hip replacement but this should be done only 2-3 weeks after recovery as recommended by your physical therapist. We suggest using a recumbent bike to exercise with first as this is kinder to your hip and start slow then slowly work up with longer sessions and harder resistance.