Total Hip Replacement Exercise Guide

After your total hip replacement surgery, you will need to exercise regularly to regain your strength and mobility, facilitate a safe return to activity and ensure a full recovery. Your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist may suggest that you begin with 20 to 30 minutes of daily physical activity. While your workout program will be customized to meet your unique needs and goals, it may include:

Early Postoperative Exercises

Immediately after your surgery, it will be important for you to take steps to prevent blood clots by boosting the circulation of blood to your legs and feet. Your surgeon will likely encourage you to begin exercising while you are still in the recovery room. In addition to promoting blood flow, these exercises—which can be performed while you lie on your back in bed—can help strengthen the muscles that support your hip, improve your joint movement and reduce your postoperative pain.

Ankle Pumps

Slowly flex your foot and pull your toes toward your knee, then flex your foot in the opposite direction. Go as far as you can in each direction. Repeat every five to 10 minutes.

Ankle Rotations

Raise your leg slightly and slowly rotate your ankle clockwise, then counterclockwise. Repeat five times in each direction. Do four sessions per day.

Bed-Supported Knee Bends

Slowly bend your knee and slide your heel toward your buttocks while keeping your foot flat on the bed. Do not allow your knee to roll inward. Hold your knee in a bent position for 10 seconds, then straighten your leg. Repeat 10 times. Do four sessions per day.

Buttock Contractions

Tighten your buttock muscles and hold for five seconds. Repeat 10 times. Do four sessions per day.

Abduction Exercises

Slowly slide your leg to the side as far as you can, then slide it back. Repeat 10 times. Do four sessions per day.

Quadriceps Sets

Tighten your thigh muscles and straighten your knee. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times, then rest for one minute and repeat the sequence. Continue until your thigh muscles begin to feel fatigued.

Straight Leg Raises

Tighten your thigh muscles and straighten your knee. Lift your leg several inches off the bed. Hold for 10 seconds, then slowly lower your leg. Repeat until your thigh muscles begin to feel fatigued.

Standing Exercises

Once you are out of bed and able to stand, you can exercise while holding onto a firm surface, such as a bar attached to your bed or a wall.

Standing Knee Raises

Raise your knee toward your chest, keeping it below waist level. Hold for three seconds, then lower your leg. Repeat 10 times. Do four sessions per day.

Standing Hip Abductions

Stand with your hip, knee and foot pointing forward. While keeping your body straight, lift your leg out to the side, then slowly lower it to the floor. Repeat 10 times. Do four sessions per day.

Standing Hip Extensions

While keeping your back straight, slowly lift your leg backward. Hold for three seconds, then slowly lower your foot to the floor. Repeat 10 times. Do four sessions per day.

Walking

Soon after your surgery, your treatment team will encourage you to begin walking short distances in your hospital room. While this may seem counterintuitive, walking is the best way to help your hip recover. To get started, stand up straight with your weight evenly balanced on a walker or crutches. Advance your walker or crutches a short distance, then extend your leg forward with your knee straight, making sure that your heel touches the floor first. As you move forward, your knee and ankle will bend and your entire foot will rest evenly on the floor. Walk slowly, smoothly and rhythmically. As your muscle strength and endurance improve, you can spend more time walking, gradually put more weight on your leg and switch to using a single crutch or cane.

If you have questions about total hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation, contact Nirschl Orthopaedic Center at (703) 525-2200 to request an appointment with a hip specialist in Arlington, VA.