Post surgery return to zwift?

General Discussion
1

Hi…im 8 weeks post surgery ankle operation and have just started on the wattbike again. I had to start off at 1 minute with no resistance and have currently built up to 16 minutes with just enough resistance to stop it running away freely (about 90 to 100 watts).

Ive been away from zwift for about a year, mainly to try competitors for a change, but im now ready to come back.

Please could i ask a couple of questions before signing up?

At what point do i retake an ftp test as currently i would be nowhere near my previous efforts?

Does it affect my ride if i dont take an ftp test until somewhere near previous? (Obviously i wont be racing, but i thought zwift whole experience was ftp based).

Thank you if anyone takes the tome to read and reply to this.

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If you are ‘just riding’ and not doing workouts then not having a current accurate ftp is not an issue. It only becomes one if you start doing workouts.

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3

The FTP test is useful for setting the power targets correctly in workouts, though not required. For anything else it doesn’t matter. Whether you should do the test is a question for your doctor or physical therapist, not random strangers on the Internet. If you can only ride for 16 minutes with minimal resistance then I think you are quite far from being ready for an FTP test (non-medical opinion). I would suggest doing free rides where only you control the resistance, and move the Trainer Difficulty setting in Zwift to zero so the terrain has no effect on resistance.

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4

Thanks very much Paul. I would always train only under the guidance of my physio, but it was more a case of does zwift work without an accurate ftp as ive never done that before.
Thanks for your good advice and taking the time to reply

5

Thank you Neil

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When your doctors give the okay and not before.

It’s a given your FTP will be lower or should be set lower just for safety and caution with your injuries if you intend to use workout modes.

I would just do normal rides at a gentle pace and if anything feels bad stop immediately. The FTP is only necessary for workouts.

You can also set workouts with a fixed low power. That will take hills out of the equation.

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Thank you Chris. Good advice and i didnt know about setting workouts to an easy level. Thanks again

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That’s probably the easiest way - you can create your own workout and set it up at very easy resistance.

It takes away the hills and keeps the effort controlled.

Sometimes you might encounter trainer resistance to get moving at first but it sounds like that shouldn’t be a problem for you.

I wish you good luck with your recovery. I’ve been where you are, it’s nice to get moving again but worrying too.

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Thank you again Chris. Yeah i think i was a bit worried as if i met some resistance id try and push through rather than stop. Easy to say no sitting here…but its like riding outside and spying another rider in front!