Around 330,000 hip replacements are performed each year, making it a fairly common procedure. In many cases, hip replacement surgery is the last resort for those who have exhausted all other treatment options, from medication to physical therapy. However, once you’ve undergone the procedure, it’s vital to have a recovery and rehabilitation plan in place and follow it.
Here are a few exercises that doctors recommend for hip replacement recovery; however, your condition may vary, so talk to your doctor before performing any exercise regimen.
Ankle pumps are slow, gentle movements that require you to lie in bed, gently rotate your foot, and flex your foot up and down. Rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, and work in slow, deliberate movements. This helps rehabilitate the ankle, hamstrings, and foot, and also works the hip muscles gently.
More excellent movements in hip replacement recovery are thigh and glute squeezes. Lie on your back and gently squeeze your glutes together, feeling the muscles tighten and clench. Let go after holding it for a few seconds. Don’t squeeze too hard, or you might cramp and experience pain. You can also squeeze your thighs the same way and gently release them, to strengthen those muscles and keep them functional.
This exercise is one of the best following hip replacement surgery and may take a while to get to, but it works well. Lie in bed or on a flat surface, and gently bend the knee, sliding your heel away from the body and then back to your original position, and also moving your heel from side to side. Then outstretch your leg and do the same with your foot flexed and keeping your leg against the bed. If you’re able to, raise both legs while lying down.
Additionally, you should walk around the house once you’re able to move. Use a rollator or walker for support, and ease into doing this. Work with trained physical therapists in order to avoid injuries.
Making lifestyle changes and exercising during hip replacement recovery can be tough, but the team at TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital will be your support system. As employees of one of the leading hospitals for specialty surgery and treatment in Houston, they’re committed to improving your quality of life. You can visit our hospital’s website to learn more about this procedure and find the right orthopedic hip surgeon near you who specializes in hip replacement surgery in Houston.
You can also visit our website to find a specialty physician for other health conditions and then schedule an appointment directly with his or her office.
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Fax: (281) 715-4525
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