A hip prosthetic replaces the ball in the joint that connects the leg to the hip bone in a surgical procedure called hip arthroplasty, or hip replacement, doctors at the Mayo Clinic report. The artificial hip joint consists of two pieces, the socket and ball. Sockets are made from metal or ceramic, and the balls can be made of plastic, ceramic or metal. People with severe hip arthritis or those who've injured their hips receive a hip replacement to restore function and relieve pain. Doing the right kind of exercise following hip replacement surgery is vital to ensuring a proper and quick recovery.
Step 1
Get up and start moving with the use of a walker or crutches the day after the surgery. By moving as soon as possible, you'll prevent immobility as well as the formation of blood clots.
Step 2
Perform your exercises twice a day to get the maximum benefit and to prevent your hip from seizing up. Splitting up the sets and repetitions also will help you avoid unnecessary pain during your rehabilitation.
Step 3
Lie flat on the floor for most of your exercises, doctors at the University of Virginia Medical Center advise. Do exercises that will strengthen the muscles in your legs that have become atrophied after surgery. With a rolled-up towel or small pillow under your knee on the side you had the operation, straighten your leg so your heel rises off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five, and then lower your foot.
Step 4
Breathe slowly in and out while you perform your exercises. While still on your back, slide the back of your foot toward your new hip. Straighten your leg and repeat. Put a pillow between your legs as you lie flat on the floor. Spread your legs out while they remain flat on the floor. Hold for a count of five and return to your original position.
Step 5
Sit up straight in a firm chair with a back. Hold the sides of the seat and slowly raise the leg on which you had surgery. Lift it as high as you can until you eventually can lift it parallel the seat of the chair. Hold for five seconds and lower. Rest for five seconds and repeat.
Tips and Warnings
- Start with a low number of repetitions. Do each of the exercises five times the first few days. Increase the number of reps until you can do 10 or 12 each time. Doctors at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons encourage patients to walk as much as they can with the help of walking sticks, walkers or trekking poles. Walking does not replace the exercises you were prescribed, but it can increase rehabilitation benefits up to 40 percent.
- Avoid movements that could dislocate the new joint. Activities to avoid until you are completely healed include bending 90 degrees at the waist, crossing your legs at the knees, reaching to pull up blankets in bed and lifting your knee higher than your hip.
Things You'll Need
- Walking sticks
- Small pillow or rolled-up towel
- Straight-backed chair
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