Recovering from a hip transplant or hip replacement procedure can be a long, painful process for many patients. You are likely to experience a drop in flexibility within your hip joint immediately following the procedure due to swelling and muscle atrophy. However, with the proper exercise and therapy, most patients are able to regain a portion of their joint range of motion, or ROM, as well as regain strength within their joint muscles.
Procedure
According to MayoClinic.com, hip replacement or a hip transplant involves removal of the diseased or worn-down hip joint and replacing it with a steel and plastic device meant to mimic the motion of a normal hip. These devices are made to be biocompatible, or accepted by your body, and resist corrosion, degradation or wear. Your physician is likely to prescribe physical therapy and exercise to assist you with regaining your ROM and strength within the hip joint as well as acclimate you to working with an artificial device in your body.
Hip Flexion
One exercise you will use during hip replacement therapy involves hip flexion, or bending your leg at the hip joint. While lying on your back with your legs fully extended, slowly bend your affected leg and hip so that your knee is bent to 90 degrees and parallel to the ceiling. Hold this position for a few moments before slowly lowering your leg back down to the starting position. Depending on your comfort and pain levels, repeat this exercise as often as your tolerance will allow.
Hip Abduction
Hip abduction, or moving your leg to the outside of your body and away from your midline, is another motion you will use during therapy. While lying on your side with your repaired hip facing the ceiling, slowly lift your leg up by using your outer hip muscles and your gluteal muscles. This motion is likely to be rather uncomfortable to start, so limit the height of your leg lift according to your pain tolerance. Hold this position for a few seconds before slowly lowering your leg to the starting position.
Hip Adduction
The opposite of hip abduction, adduction -- or moving you leg closer to your midline -- can also be used during therapy exercise. While lying on your repaired hip side and bracing your body weight with your arm on that side, stagger your legs so that they are separated and not directly on top of one another. Next, use your inner hip and groin muscles to lift your bottom leg up toward the ceiling. This motion will be naturally restricted by your hip anatomy thus allowing you to lift your leg only a few inches. Repeat this motion as often as comfort will allow.
Member Comments