Since you are the exercise guru, I hope you can help me on this one.

I've had a total knee replacement. Actually during the first operation, the doc really screwed up and broke my leg, didn't know it was broken until it didn't fit together after the glue was set, and then he had to remove it to fix the fracture and replace it with another. It was so painful and the therapy was unusual because I had to wear a bledsoe brace to stabilize the break while at the same time allowing it to bend for the cpm machine. The pain never did go away and I could hardly do anything for over 2 years so I had it done over by another doc.

This second doc told me that the second time around is actually worse than the first and the success rate is sometimes not as great.(this was actually my third knee) I feel that this knee is so much better that I am happy with it, but I still have some discomfort with it at times.

I have been going to the gym to help strengthen these muscles and other muscles that have not been exercised much for these past 3 years.

My question is regarding the weight machines. Is it dangerous for me to be using the weight machines on my knee? I have been told that there is always the chance that using weights will break the prosthesis loose. I don't want to damage this knee. I am still only in my mid 50's so I need this knee for a very long time!

Also, my family doc told me to avoid the treadmill because it is hard on knees, so I ride a recumbant bike for about 15-20 minutes or more 4x a week.

I will appreciate your views on this. Thank you from me and my knee!

As far as leg work goes, when I have worked with clients that have had knee replacement, it is best to go with exercises that are "closed chain" moves, meaning that they are moves that don't isolate the joint.

The only example of this that would be suitable in your situation is the leg press. I advise using a machine version, not a free weight version.

I do use that machine occasionaly. I thought too that that would be a good one.

Are you saying I shouldn't do the machine where I lift the weights with my legs or the one where I push the weights down with my legs? I can actually do the push one with a fair amount of weights, I guess my hamstrings are pretty strong. But, the lift one is really hard on my knee and I can only do it with 20 or 30 lb weights and it hurts.

Thanks for the advise. I will concentrate on the leg press from now on.