A post-hip surgery exercise program often begins in the hospital bed after you awake from surgery. Exercise plays an integral role in your surgery recovery because your muscles and tendons must become accustomed to your new and improved hip. Emphasizing muscle strength and flexibility can ensure you experience the best post-surgery results. When you have received a physician's approval to begin exercising, you can start a multi-phase rehabilitation process.
Initial Exercises
After surgery, you likely will meet with a physical therapist to discuss exercises you can do from your hospital bed. These exercises keep blood moving through your extremities and reduce blood clots. Examples of exercises include ankle pumps, which involve flexing and pointing your feet to encourage circulation. You also may squeeze your quadriceps and gluteal muscles individually to strengthen them. Perform these exercises, until fatigued, as long as you stay in bed post-surgery.
Range of Motion
The next phase of your post-surgery exercise program will be to perform range-of-motion exercises. These exercises help you maintain flexibility in the joint, which can prevent uncomfortable stiffness. Exercise examples include leg lifts, where you lie on your back with your leg extended and slowly lift your affected leg about 6 inches off the ground. Repeat until fatigued and continue these exercises for several weeks until your physician advises otherwise. Your physical therapist will record gradual improvements in your flexibility.
Weight-Bearing Exercises
Weight-bearing exercises involve putting your whole weight on your leg. The period for these exercises may depend upon the type of surgery you had. For example, if you had uncemented hip replacement surgery, you may wait longer to perform weight-bearing exercises because your hipbone needs time to grow into the implant. Weight-bearing exercises may involve walking with or without a walker or cane. You may slowly increase the time you walk daily. Other weight-bearing exercises include stair climbing and descending.
Return to Activities
Hip-surgery recovery can take several months before you fully can return to regular activities. Talk with your physician about your post-surgery activity goals, whether this is extended walking time, riding your bicycle or returning to a sport like golf. During the months when you recover, you also will incorporate strength training into your exercise routine. You can use resistance tubing or a resistance band tied around your ankle and a sturdy piece of furniture to lift your leg to the front, side and back to strengthen your hip.
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