Total Hip Replacement Exercise Guide Hip Replacement, Portland, Oregon

Total Hip Replacement Exercise Guide

From OrthoInfo &  the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Regular exercise to restore strength and mobility to your hip and a gradual return to everyday

activities are important for your full recovery after hip replacement. Your orthopaedic surgeon

and physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day

during your early recovery.   They may suggest some of the exercises shown below.

This guide can help you better understand your exercise and activity program, supervised by

your physical therapist and orthopaedic surgeon. To ensure your safe recovery, be sure to check

with your therapist or surgeon before performing any of the exercises shown.

Early Postoperative Exercises

The following exercises will help increase circulation to your legs and feet, which is important

for preventing blood clots. They will also help strengthen your muscles and improve hip

movement.

Start the exercises as soon as you are able. You can begin them in the recovery room shortly

after surgery. You may feel uncomfortable at first, but these exercises will help speed your

recovery and actually diminish your postoperative pain.

Ankle Pumps

Slowly push your foot up and down. Repeat this exercise several times, as often as every 5 or 10

minutes. Begin this exercise immediately after surgery and continue it until you are fully recovered.

Illustration of ankle pumps

Ankle pumps

Ankle Rotations

Move your ankle inward toward your other foot and then outward away from your other foot.

Repeat 5 times in each direction.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.

Illustration of ankle rotations

Ankle rotatations

Bed-Supported Knee Bends

Slide your foot toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping your heel on the bed. Do not let your knee roll inward. Hold your knee in a maximally bent position for 5 to 10 seconds and then straighten.

Repeat 10 times.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.

Illustration of bed-supported knee bend

Bed-supported knee bends

Buttock Contractions

Tighten your buttock muscles and hold to a count of 5.

Repeat 10 times.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.

Illustration of buttock contractions

Buttock contractions

Abduction Exercise

Slide your leg out to the side as far as you can and then back.

Repeat 10 times.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day

Illustration of abduction exercise

Abduction exercise

Quadriceps Set

Tighten your thigh muscle. Try to straighten your knee. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds.

Repeat this exercise 10 times during a 10-minute period, rest one minute and repeat.

Continue until your thigh feels fatigued.

Illustration of quadriceps set

Quadriceps set

Straight Leg Raises

Tighten your thigh muscle with your knee fully straightened on the bed. Lift your leg several inches. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Slowly lower.

Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued.

Illustration of straight leg raise

Straight leg raises

Standing Exercises

Soon after your surgery, you will be out of bed and able to stand. You will require help at first but, as you regain your strength, you will be able to stand independently. While doing these standing exercises, make sure you are holding on to a firm surface such as a bar attached to your bed or a wall.

Standing Knee Raises

Lift your operated leg toward your chest. Do not lift your knee higher than your waist. Hold for 2 or 3 counts and put your leg down.

Repeat 10 times.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.

Illustration of standing knee raise

Standing knee raises

Standing Hip Abduction

Be sure your hip, knee and foot are pointing straight forward. Keep your body straight. With your knee straight, lift your leg out to the side. Slowly lower your leg so your foot is back on the floor.

Repeat 10 times.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.

Illustration of standing hip abduction

Standing hip abduction

Standing Hip Extensions

Lift your operated leg backward slowly. Try to keep your back straight. Hold for 2 or 3 counts. Return your foot to the floor.

Repeat 10 times.

Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.

Illustration of standing hip extension

Standing hip extensions

Early Activity

Soon after surgery, you will begin to walk short distances in your hospital room and perform light everyday activities. This early activity aids your recovery and helps your hip regain its strength and movement.

Walking

Proper walking is the best way to help your hip recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg.

Illustration of woman using a walker after hip replacement

Early on, walking will help you regain movement in your hip.

Stand comfortably and erect with your weight evenly balanced on your walker or crutches. Advance your walker or crutches a short distance; then reach forward with your operated leg with your knee straightened so the heel of your foot touches the floor first. As you move forward, your knee and ankle will bend and your entire foot will rest evenly on the floor. As you complete the step, your toe will lift off the floor and your and knee and hip will bend so that you can reach forward for your next step. Remember, touch your heel first, then flatten your foot, then lift your toes off the floor.

Walk as rhythmically and smoothly as you can. Don’t hurry. Adjust the length of your step and speed as necessary to walk with an even pattern. As your muscle strength and endurance improve, you may spend more time walking. You will gradually put more weight on your leg. You may use a cane in the hand opposite your surgery and, eventually, walk without an aid.When you can walk and stand for more than 10 minutes and your leg is strong enough so that you are not carrying any weight on your walker or crutches, you can begin using a single crutch or cane. Hold the aid in the hand opposite the side of your surgery.

Stair Climbing and Descending

The ability to go up and down stairs requires both strength and flexibility. At first, you will need a handrail for support and will be able to go only one step at a time. Always lead up the stairs with your good leg and down the stairs with your operated leg. Remember, “up with the good” and “down with the bad.” You may want to have someone help you until you have regained most of your strength and mobility.

Stair climbing is an excellent strengthening and endurance activity. Do not try to climb steps higher than the standard height (7 inches) and always use a handrail for balance. As you become stronger and more mobile, you can begin to climb stairs foot over foot.

Illustration of woman climbing and descending stairs using a crutch

Stair climbing and descending using a crutch

Advanced Exercises and Activities

The pain from your hip problems before your surgery and the pain and swelling after surgery have weakened your hip muscles. A full recovery will take many months. The following exercises and activities will help your hip muscles recover fully.

These exercises should be done in 10 repetitions, 4 times a day. Place one end of the tubing around the ankle of your operated leg and attach the opposite end of the tubing to a stationary object such as a locked door or heavy furniture. Hold on to a chair or bar for balance.

Elastic Tube Exercises

Resistive Hip Flexion

Stand with your feet slightly apart. Bring your operated leg forward keeping the knee straight. Allow your leg to return to its previous position.

Illustration of resistive hip flexion

 Resistive hip flexion

Resistive Hip Abduction

Stand sideways from the door to which the tubing is attached and extend your operated leg out to the side. Allow your leg to return to its previous position.

Illustration of resistive hip abduction

Resistive hip abduction

Resistive Hip Extensions

Face the door to which the tubing is attached and pull your leg straight back. Allow your leg to return to its previous position.

Illustration of resistive hip extensions

Resistive hip extensions

Exercycling

Exercycling is an excellent activity to help you regain muscle strength and hip mobility.

At first, adjust the seat height so that the bottom of your foot just touches the pedal with your knee almost straight. Pedal backwards at first. Ride forward only after a comfortable cycling motion is possible backwards.

As you become stronger (at about 4 to 6 weeks) slowly increase the tension on the exercycle. Exercycle for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day, gradually building up to 20 to 30 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week.

Walking

Walk with a cane until you have regained your balance skills. In the beginning, walk for 5 or 10 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. As your strength and endurance improve, you can walk for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. Once you have fully recovered, regular walks of 20 to 30 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week, will help maintain your strength.

 


 


The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:
503-224-8399

Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm