How Hydrow Gave Me My Life Back After Knee Surgery

This blog is a guest post form Hydrow Member Angela Romei. 

I knew all through 2025 that knee surgery was coming. 

After years of pain and no cartilage remaining in my left knee, my orthopedic surgeon and I finally decided it was time. We had delayed surgery for more than a decade because I was considered “too young,” and there are only so many knee replacements your body can tolerate in a lifetime. But eventually, the pain and limitations became too impossible to ignore.  

What I didn’t know was that preparing for surgery (and recovering from it) would completely change my relationship with fitness, thanks to Hydrow. 

Finding a fitness routine that didn’t hurt

Fitness wasn’t part of my upbringing. I’ve always had to find movement on my own, mostly as a way to manage stress and stay healthy.

But as my knee got worse, even the activities I loved became difficult. Hiking hurt. I could no longer walk long distances. Cardio (really any kind of jumping or bouncing) became impossible. And even yoga was slowly being taken from me.

While I was researching ways to strengthen the muscles around my knee before surgery, I started getting ads for Hydrow. I’d used rowing machines casually at gyms before (usually for about three minutes before moving on), but Hydrow caught my attention. The machine itself was beautiful and streamlined, with a large screen. The idea of immersive rowing workouts felt different from traditional fitness equipment.

I had the chance to try a Hydrow while staying at a Westin hotel during a business trip to Kansas City. I used it every day during that trip, and by the end of the weekend, I was hooked.

What pulled me in immediately was the experience. The screen was stunning. I loved rowing through scenic international destinations. I loved coaches guiding me through workouts in a way that felt personal and encouraging instead of intense or intimidating.

And, most importantly, it didn’t hurt my knee.

So I bought one.

Rowing before (and after) surgery

 I used my Hydrow for about eight weeks before surgery, mainly to build strength around my knee and get some form of cardio back into my life.

Then came surgery.

Two weeks later, I asked my physical therapist if I could use my Hydrow again.

His answer was basically, “Uh…maybe?”

But I knew how my body had responded before surgery, and I trusted that. So I started slowly. At first, I didn’t even turn the machine on. I simply sat on the seat and gently moved my knee back and forth because that motion actually felt good. It mirrored some of the movement I was already doing in physical therapy.

Gradually, I worked my way back up to doing endurance workouts, then higher-intensity and HIIT. 

The incredible thing was that through it all, rowing never hurt, even when other activities did. Squats hurt. Trying hiking hurt. But rowing consistently felt safe and restorative. Every time I got on my Hydrow, it felt like I was lubricating my joint and loosening everything up.

Now, six months after surgery, I’m back to regular walks, yoga, and Pilates. Hydrow became the safe entry point that helped me return to all of the activities I love and wanted to do again.

Why Hydrow works for me

The biggest reason I’ve stayed consistent with Hydrow is simple: I genuinely enjoy it.

I know myself well enough to understand that I’m most likely to stick with exercise if I actually like doing it. Hiking challenges me, but rowing is something I look forward to.

Even on days when my body feels stiff and creaky, 10 minutes on my Hydrow changes everything. I feel looser, stronger, and more energized afterward.

And mentally, there’s something powerful about starting the day by doing something challenging.

Even if I’m doing just a 10- or 20-minute workout, I feel like the rest of my day becomes more manageable because I already accomplished something that challenged me.

The Athletes feel like real people

What really makes the Hydrow experience special for me is the combination of the Athletes and the destinations. The Athletes don’t feel intimidating, and they’re not yelling at you. Instead, they are relatable, encouraging, and authentically human. 

I love Athletes like Mac, James, Dani, and Peter because they talk about life as much as fitness, whether it’s navigating “choppy waters” in a workout or sharing stories that make you feel connected while you row.

Paired with the immersive destinations, from the crystal clear water in Exuma to the canals of Clearwater Beach and the mountains of Switzerland, Hydrow transforms exercise into something I actually look forward to and enjoy. 

And honestly, if there’s a chance of spotting dolphins during a workout, I’m clicking that row immediately. 

The combination of beautiful scenery, meaningful coaching, and little moments of joy makes Hydrow feel less like exercise and more like an escape. 

My advice to anyone considering Hydrow 

If you’re dealing with an injury, recovering from surgery, or just trying to find movement that actually feels good in your body, Hydrow can truly be life-changing. All of my research pointed to rowing as one of the best overall, low-impact activities for cardio and long-term joint health. 

My Hydrow became more than cardio for me. It became the foundation that helped me rebuild strength, confidence, and mobility needed in my everyday life. I always finish stronger than I start! 

I honestly think rowing machines should be in physical therapy clinics everywhere.

And for anyone considering buying one? Try it if you can. Once you experience it, you’ll understand why so many of us fall in love with it.

Because for me, this wasn’t just another workout machine.

Hydrow helped me get my life back.