I had a torn meniscus of the left knee and was scheduled for surgery. My orthopedist, one of the best in the country, required that I do either physical therapy for 6 months or a recumbent bicycle for 6 months following surgery. I had to sign a statement confirming my decision. I chose the recumbent bicycle because my apartment complex has a gym with one. I started doing the therapy a month before the operation which was canceled following the unexpected passing of my wife. I used the stationary bicycle everyday to work out some of my grief and started noticing that it was feeling better month by month. In less than a year, I had no knee pain and no need for the operation. That was 7 years ago. Some of the latest research on meniscus surgery indicates that physical therapy is as effective to the surgery.