Rehabilitation will continue a few days after the surgery, with visits with physical and occupational therapists two to three times per week, as well as home exercises.
The NHS recommends that patients have a minimum of six weeks' physio after a hip or knee replacement but, according to a new study, the amount of physiotherapy people actually receive depends on where they live.
You have a window of time immediately after your surgery in which you can restore the range of motion in your new joint. If you don't move and engage in physical therapy, however, scar tissue develops that restricts movement and your muscles weaken.
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 the first six weeks after surgery major goals include strengthening, balance training, and progressing to walking without the use of an assistive device. In the following 6 to 12 weeks it is important to focus on more advanced therapy goals.
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.
I recommend that you walk as much as your feel comfortable (at least 2-3 times a day), trying to walk a little further each time. You may walk inside or outside as you feel comfortable. As stated above, you will need a walker or cane for stability for the first 3-6 weeks.
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
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.
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.
Don't cross your legs at the knees for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Don't bring your knee up higher than your hip. Don't lean forward while sitting or as you sit down. Don't try to pick up something on the floor while you are sitting.
One of the first things to take place in the hospital following your surgery is formal physical therapy. Necessary after hip replacement, physical therapy sessions will begin as soon after your surgery as possible, continuing throughout your hospital stay.
3-4 weeks post-op
Continue with the above exercises and continue to increase the distance that you walk outside, some patients by this time may be comfortable walking as much as a mile a day.
Total Hip Replacement Rehabilitation
If the prosthesis is not cemented into place, it is necessary to allow four to six weeks (for the femur bone to "grow into" the implant) before the hip joint is able to bear full weight and walking without crutches is possible.
While these procedures are effective in improving pain and function [3,4,5,6,7], there is a risk of complications. The most common complications requiring readmission for hip arthroplasty are dislocation and infection, whereas infection dominates following knee arthroplasty [8, 9].
Periprosthetic fractures involve bone breaks around the implant that can cause it to fail. These fractures are rare and usually occur years after a hip replacement, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A fall, direct blow to the hip or car crash can cause these fractures to occur.
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.
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.
Massage can play a critical role in the recovery process after joint-replacement surgery. Hip- and knee-replacement surgery offers a path to pain-free mobility for people whose joint function has diminished due to age, illness, activity or injury.
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.
If you wait too long, the cartilage of the knee or hip may be completely worn out as a result of the progressing arthritis, making the operation substantially more complicated.