If you've recently undergone hip surgery of any kind, you will need to exercise in order to help restore strength, mobility and range of motion in your hip joint. Such exercises will help you get back on your feet and engage in an active lifestyle. Your physical therapist will likely suggest that you start with 20 to 30 minutes at a time two to three times a day, suggests the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, to help reduce the chance of forming blood clots and to enhance mobility and healing processes.
Ankle Moves
If your physical therapist recommends them, exercises for the ankle will start you off on your exercise program and keep blood moving in the leg. Start by performing several ankle exercises, including ankle rotations and pumps. For ankle pumps, lie on your bed or sofa and push your foot downward, like you're applying pressure to a gas pedal, then tilt your toes toward you. Repeat this exercise about five times every 10 minutes immediately after surgery.
Rotate your ankle in a clockwise direction five times, then switch direction and rotate in a counterclockwise direction. You can do this several times a day, suggests the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Hip Abduction
Abduction means away from. A hip abduction exercise is one that moves the leg away from the hip. Lying on your back on the floor or bed, place your feet together. Slide your right leg away from the body along the floor as far as you can without pain, suggests the AAOS, and then back again. Repeat with the other leg. Perform this exercise between five and 10 times on each side several times a day to help the healing process and to increase range of motion and mobility.
Walking
Within two days, you should be trying to walk, with assistance from your physical therapist or other qualified medical professional, according to AboutJoints.com, a medical resource for physicians and patients. Ambulation can start with a walker or crutches to start your weight bearing exercises. Walk slowly, starting with a toe-touch walk, which means placing the toes of your foot on the floor before placing the heel on the floor. This type of walk routine should be adhered to for about six weeks.
Knee Extensions
Lie on the floor with a rolled towel or blanket placed beneath the knee on the affected side. Keeping your lower back pressed into the floor, raise the affected leg, knee slightly bent, about a foot off the bed. Keep the other leg slightly bent, foot firmly on the surface of the floor or bed. Hold the leg up for about five seconds and then release, suggests The Hip and Knee Institute of Los Angeles County. Repeat this exercise about five times.
Member Comments