A total hip replacement is a surgical procedure used to repair the damaged ball and socket joint in your hip. This joint, the largest weight-bearing joint in your body, can be damaged due to conditions like arthritis or trauma to the joint. This can result in looseness and instability in the joint. With a hip replacement, the end of your thigh bone is removed and replaced with a metallic replacement for your joint. Rehabilitative exercises are usually prescribed after this surgery to help restore range of motion and strength to your leg. Check with your doctors to determine whether these exercises are right for you.
Ankle Pumps
This exercise can help restore the range of motion to your leg after a procedure to correct the looseness in your hip joint. Lie on your back in bed with your feet about shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing toward the ceiling. Use the muscles of your legs to point your toes toward the end of the bed. Hold this position for a couple of seconds, and then begin moving your foot up and down. Continue this exercise for 10 repetitions and then begin moving your foot and ankle in a circle. Repeat 10 times.
Heel Slides
Lie on the bed with your feet about shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing toward the ceiling. Keep your heel on the bed and begin bending your knee to slide your heel toward your buttocks. Go as far as you can without suffering severe pain. Keep your knee and toes pointing toward the ceiling throughout the exercise. Repeat 10 times, and perform three sets of this exercise daily.
Standing Leg Lifts
The standing leg lift and the hip extension exercise below are used to help restore strength to your hip after surgery to correct the looseness in your hip. Stand next to a counter or wall with your uninjured hip closest to the support and your weight supported by your uninjured hip. Place your hand on the wall or counter and lift your leg off the ground and out in front of your body. Don't bend your knee when performing this exercise. Continue lifting your leg until the toes of your foot are level with your supporting leg. Hold this position for several seconds and relax. Repeat until you can't perform another repetition.
Standing Hip Extension
While the leg lift exercise is designed to strengthen the muscles that move your leg forward, this exercise helps strengthen the muscles that pull your leg behind your body. Stand next to a chair or counter with your uninjured leg closest to the chair and your weight distributed on your healthy side. Lift your injured leg off the ground, and move it behind your body while keeping your knee as straight as possible. Move your foot behind your body as far as possible without serious pain. Hold this position for about five seconds, and then relax. Repeat for three sets of 10 repetitions.
