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Total Hip Replacement
Hips are the second most common joint that is replaced (knees are number one). Depending on where the surgeon does the surgery, you may have precautions. Since the posterior (rear) approach involves cutting through muscles, you are not allowed to bend your hip past 90 degrees, cross your legs or rotate your hip inward for the first six weeks following surgery. Precautions may vary depending on your surgeon’s preference, so make sure you follow exactly the surgeon’s orders. The anterior approach (going through the front) is known to have less precautions since it does not involve cutting through muscles. If you do have precautions, make sure you follow them.
Physical therapy following a hip replacement is designed to help you improve the range of motion and strength to your hip. Further, we may work on gait and balance training to improve walking/stairs quality and to reduce the risk of a fall.
While we strive to improve everyone’s strength, range of motion and walking quality to peak levels, specific considerations will be made based on unique individual circumstances. For example, if you love to hike, special training will take place to help prepare you for walking on unlevel surfaces.
References:
- Cibulka, Michael T. et al. “Hip Pain and Mobility Deficits—Hip Osteoarthritis: Revision 2017.” Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Vol. 47, No. 6, 2017, pp. A1-A37. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT), https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2017.0301.
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