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A $29聽of stationary exercise pedals has been found to be superior to traditional rehabilitation methods for knee replacement patients.

led by found that the simple home fitness equipment improved function and reduced pain in patients within two weeks of surgery compared to those undertaking standard rehabilitation.

There are 50,000 knee replacements in Australia every year and the healthcare cost burden is set to increase with an ageing population and rising obesity rates.聽Using the exercise bike instead of expensive and complicated rehabilitation programs could potentially save Australian patients at least $25 million per year.

鈥淲e were surprised that it was superior to standard rehabilitation methods,鈥� said senior orthopaedic physiotherapist Larissa Sattler, lead researcher on the study.聽鈥淭hose that did the pedalling not only felt better, they could walk faster and further.鈥�

Orthopaedic surgeon and associate professor Dr Christopher Vertullo said the study shows that expensive, complicated rehabilitation programs are not needed after knee replacement, and that a self-directed, simple pedalling program is the best approach by far for patients.

鈥淚t offers a take-home, turnkey solution which is incredibly cost-effective.

鈥淵ou can buy the pedals at stores like Kmart, people can do it themselves, and they actually do better than more complicated and expensive rehab, which is often more painful in the short term and unnecessary.

鈥淥ften patients find the rehabilitation after knee replacement too hard and too confusing and they don鈥檛 know where to start.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also a worry that the rehabilitation is almost more expensive than the knee replacement itself.

鈥淚t is amazing when you consider the amount of money spent on rehabilitation that there is actually no research or evidence around what is best until now.鈥�

The study involved 60 total knee replacement patients at on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The research is being published in聽the .

Image caption: Patient Janine Dickinson uses the stationary pedals a week after undergoing a total knee replacement, watched over by orthopaedic physiotherapist Larissa Sattler. Image credit: Cavan Flynn.