Is cycling good after a hip replacement? Unlike running, cycling is seen as a very good post-op activity because it's very low impact on your hips. In fact, your doctor may recommend cycling on a static bike as a way of building muscle strength around the affected hip.
"As long as there is no pounding on the joints, it's safe to begin activity," says Bronson. And while he says outside bike riding is discouraged for three months because of the risk of falling, after that, regular cycling is not only allowed, it's encouraged.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
“On average, hip replacement recovery can take around two to four weeks, but everyone is different,” says Thakkar. It depends on a few factors, including how active you were before your surgery, your age, nutrition, preexisting conditions, and other health and lifestyle factors.
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.
After surgery there are no restrictions in the way you are allowed to move but you should listen to your body and avoid painful movements or positions.
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.
Hip osteoarthritis and cycling
By moving, the complaints can be reduced. This is because the cartilage is kept flexible by moving. Cycling is an excellent way to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis. Cycling also strengthens and improves your muscles, tendons and condition.
Cold temperatures may cause pain in a significant number of patients with orthopedic implants. A high proportion of these patients have significant pain (5–10 on a numeric rating scale) related to cold conditions.
Hip implant device materials include both plastic and metal. Metals commonly used as orthopedic materials include stainless steel, cobalt chrome, and titanium. Typically, airport screening detectors will identify patients with these metal implants.
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.
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.
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].
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.
According to Dr. Moe, most of the patients he performs hip replacement surgery on are age 60 and above. A typical hip replacement lasts around 18 to 20 years. So if you get a hip replacement too young then you risk needing another surgery down the road.
In addition, relatively low barometric pressure (which can lead to precipitation) also increases pain. Researchers suspected the pain is a result of swelling in the joint capsule reacting to the outside environment. Those who have undergone joint replacement surgery can also note a difference.
However, with a titanium hip proven to remain in place even after 28 years, titanium hips have the best hip replacement results for younger patients.
But cycling isn't perfect for joints. While it protects the knees, this activity can also trigger tightness and pain across the hips. Some simple stretches and strengthening exercises can fix this problem to get you or your client back on the bike.