Walking is the best exercise for a healthy recovery, because walking will help you recover hip movement. Initially, the use of a walker or crutches will help to prevent blood clots and strengthen your muscles which will improve hip movement.
Limit Movement
For 4 to 8 weeks after your surgery, or until your doctor tells you otherwise, do not lift, pull, or push anything that weighs more than 10 pounds. Do not perform any movement or exercises that use your abdominal muscles, such as sitting straight up from a lying position.
Learning to climb stairs with an artificial hip is an important part of your physical therapy program after surgery. Your physical therapist will focus on strengthening muscles that work against gravity to help you progress as quickly as possible. These muscles are responsible for keeping you upright while you walk.
Your leg muscles are probably weak because you haven't used them much due to your hip problems. The surgery can correct the hip problem, but the muscles will remain weak and will only be strengthened through regular exercise.
It is important to gradually increase your out-of-home activity during the first few weeks after surgery. If you do too much activity, your hip may become more swollen and painful.
In traditional hip replacement surgery, the surgeon makes a long incision and cuts muscles, tendons and ligaments to get to the hip joint. When more tissues, muscles and tendons are cut during surgery, the recovery is more painful and the healing process takes longer.
Squat exercises can be done after a hip replacement but not without the permission from your doctor. Squats should not be attempted until a few months after your operation.
Managing Expectations After Hip Replacement Surgery
Since cycling is a low impact sport, Hallows told Leousis he should have no problems getting back to the sport he loves.
The following activities are generally not recommended after hip replacement: running, jogging, squash, racquetball, contact sports, sports where jumping is involved, heavy lifting (over 50 lbs).
Repetitive motions and high-impact activities can damage an implant over time. These types of activities include running, heavy weightlifting, jumping, and more. You may need to avoid sports, such as soccer, cross-country running, racquetball, or basketball, which involve these repetitive motions.
Generally, I advise patients to walk only a few hundred yards a day total until they get to around six weeks. By that point, the implants are ingrown with bone, meaning that the bone is fused to the implant. Dislocations used to be a very big concern for hip replacements.
It's best to avoid sleeping on your affected side for at least six weeks. After your doctor gives you the go-ahead, listen to your body, and only lie on your operative side when you feel comfortable.
Most hip replacement patients are able to walk within the same day or next day of surgery; most can resume normal routine activities within the first 3 to 6 weeks of their total hip replacement recovery. Once light activity becomes possible, it's important to incorporate healthy exercise into your recovery program.
Bending after hip replacement surgery
The range of motion is typically limited to 90 degrees of flexion for the first 90 days while tissues are repairing themselves. The maximum potential of the joint and complete healing following a total hip replacement is achieved between one and two years after your operation.
Following a hip replacement, most people will lack strength, while others will lack the proper flexibility and motion around the hip to achieve a smooth stride. The hip joint requires a balance between flexibility and strength, which can be a challenge to achieve.
After around six to 12 weeks, you may also be able to return to work depending on how physically demanding your work is. You should continue walking often every day and avoid sitting for long periods of time. This will help reduce your hip pain and stiffness.
Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, golfing and bicycling are very beneficial to patients recovering from joint replacement surgery. Avoid activities that involve impact stress on the joint, such as jogging or jumping, and contact sports, such as football.
Patients are often most surprised to learn that they are not only permitted to lift weights but are encouraged to lift weights after receiving a joint replacement. In fact, lifting weights is the best thing a patient can do for the prolonged life of their artificial joint.
Avoid high-impact plyometrics such as box jumps, deep lunges. Avoid high-impact skiing, such as doing moguls. Never push through pain. Stay clear of high level endurance running sports, which can wear out the knee faster.
An artificial hip is not identical to a healthy natural hip joint. It is much more prone to dislocation, as shown in the accompanying X-ray (Fig 8a). This happens because the artificial hip is lacking in certain structures that normally hold the head of the femur securely in the acetabulum.
Many patients step on their bathroom scales after hip replacement to find that they have put on up to 10-15 pounds overnight.
Once you've been anaesthetised, the surgeon makes a cut (incision) of up to 30cm over the side of your hip. The upper part of your thigh bone (femur) is removed and the natural socket for the head of your femur is hollowed out. A socket is fitted into the hollow in your pelvis.