I am 5 weeks out from RTKR and am back at my gym for upper body and my OK left leg, plus bike, elliptical trainer, and walking on the treadmill. My PT will - I'm told - continue through the 3 month mark. My gym gives everyone 4 or 5 free sessions with a personal trainer. That makes sure you are comfortable with the machines and with some of the Pilates equipment which is good for balance and core training. The bottom line for someone like you Jacque1 is to go slow, as Jamie said, and be sure you are doing only what you can at first. But you have to be somewhat aggressive or you won't build strength. The balance exercises which you can do yourself (and your PT has probably been doing with you) are very important. Also abdominals which are hard for people who haven't been doing them. But crucial to core strength. Which is crucial to balance, standing and walking correctly. I would actually look for a gym that is oriented toward helping new exercisers. any gym with decent and decently maintained equipment and free weights will do for long-time users. But new people need help and encouragement and supervision. If you can afford a personal trainer and you can find a good one who understands your situation -- go for it. I got into weight training after my ACL repair 25 years ago -- when my health insurance paid for a personal trainer for 6 months in lieu of more PT. YOur PT might also give you a series of exercises for balance etc to do at the gym. And ways to keep pushing your knee to increase ROM (which also involves stretching quad musicles) But no matter what you do, the most important thing is consistency and doing it correctly. And without either a friend to work out with you or a personal trainer, you may be tempted to let the exercise slide. Which you just can't do!!! And if you CAN get more PT out of your insurance company -- go for it! Problem is insurance companies see PT as a deep black expensive hole and don't realize how much most people need it for something as serious as a knee replacement. Good luck and I hope you turn into a regular gym rat like me!!! You'll feel so much better!
Stephani