Knee Surgery and Need Ideas for Exercise!

I am having knee surgery on Wednesday and need some ideas of things I can do while sitting on a couch with my leg elevated.  I would like some cardio and strength training ideas.  I have an ab strengthener II, a thigh toner that can be used for upper body, and 5 and 8 lb dumbbells.  I will be on crutches for at least four weeks and will be in a brace that goes from my hip to my ankle for at least 6 weeks so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  What are some of your favorite upper body moves and how can I get my cardio going while sitting on a couch?  This is making me nervous because I am on the medication prednisone which will make me gain if I am not too careful.  I would like to continue to lose through this process but if I can just maintain I will be happy with that as well.  I will be doing physical therapy anywhere from 3 to 5 times a week which will help with the strength training because that is the goal of physial therapy.  Thanks in advance for any help!

well after the surgery for about a week you really should just relax and just watch your diet. just go low calories you don't want to get your blood flowing to much you just need to heal. I had a surgery and had to lay around for 2 weeks I just droped almost all my carbs and managed to still lose a little..

Good luck

You'll be having PT for the first couple of months, and that should show you your limitations and how hard you'll have to work to get your knee strong again.

I've used the Sit and be Fit exercises during times when I've been too ill to exercise

http://www.collagevideo.com/item.aspx?item=35 34

Thanks for the link for the sitting exercises.

i don't know if you're a cautious person.  if so, you may not want to do this.  but when i was in college in crutches, i used to do stuff like "race" up and down the stairs w/my crutches.  it's an incredible upper body workout.  after only about 4 weeks, my arms were cut.  good luck w/surgery!

The PT I talked to last week in reguard to my strained knees suggested I get on a ball and exercise. Just to concentrate on my core and upper body while I recover. Abs, back, chest.