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REHAB
Regular
exercises to restore your normal hip motion and strength
and a gradual return to everyday activities are important
for your full recovery. Your orthopaedic surgeon and
physical therapist may recommend that you exercise 20
to 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a day during your early recovery.
They may suggest some of the following exercises.
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Early
Postoperative Exercises
These exercises are important for increasing circulation to your legs
and feet to prevent blood clots. They also are important to strengthen
muscles and to improve your hip movement. You may begin these exercises
in the recovery room shortly after surgery. It may feel uncomfortable
at first, but these exercises will speed your recovery and reduce your
postoperative pain. These exercises should be done as you lie on your
back with your legs spread slightly apart. |
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Ankle
Pumps
Slowly push your foot up and down. Do this exercise several times as
often as every 5 or 10 minutes. This exercise can begin immediately after
surgery and continue until you are fully recovered. |
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| Ankle
Rotations |
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Move
your ankle inward toward your other foot and then outward
away from your other foot.
Repeat 5 times in each direction 3 or 4 times a day. |
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| Bed-Supported
Knee Bends |
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Slide
your heel toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping
your heel on the bed. Do not let your knee roll inward.
Repeat 10 times 3 or 4 times a day |
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| Buttock
Contractions |
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Tighten
buttock muscles and hold to a count of 5.
Repeat 10 times 3 or 4 times a day |
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| Abduction
Exercise |
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Slide
your leg out to the side as far as you can and then back.
Repeat 10 times 3 or 4 times a day |
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| Quadriceps
Set |
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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.
Continue until your thigh feels fatigued. |
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| Straight
Leg Raises |
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Tighten
your thigh muscle with your knee fully straightened on
the bed. As your thigh muscle tightens, lift your leg several
inches off the bed. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Slowly lower.
Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued. |
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Standing
Exercises
Soon after your surgery, you will be out of bed and able to stand. You
will require help since you may become dizzy the first several times
you stand. As you regain your strength, youwill 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. |
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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 3 or 4 times a day |
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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 3 or 4 times a day |
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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 3 or 4 times a day |
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Walking
and Early Activity
Soon after surgery, you will begin to walk short distances in your hospital
room and perform light everyday activities. This early activity helps
your recovery by helping your hip muscles regain strength and movement. |
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Walking
with Walker, Full Weightbearing
Stand comfortably and erect with your weight evenly balanced on your
walker or crutches. Move your walker or crutches forward a short distance.
Then move forward, lifting your operated leg so that the heel of your
foot will touch the floor first. As you move, your knee and ankle will
bend and your entire foot will rest evenly on the floor. As you complete
the step allow your toe to lift off the floor. Move the walker again
and your knee and hip will again reach forward for your next step. Remember,
touch your heel first, then flatten your foot, then lift your toes off
the floor. Try to walk as smoothly as you can. Don't hurry. As your muscle
strength and endurance improve, you may spend more time walking. Gradually,
you will put more and more weight on your leg.
Walking with Cane or Crutch
A walker is often used for the first several weeks to help your balance
and to avoid falls. A cane or a crutch is then used for several more
weeks until your full strength and balance skills have returned. Use
the cane or crutch in the hand opposite the operated hip. You are ready
to use a cane or single crutch when you can stand and balance without
your walker, when your weight is placed fully on both feet, and when
you are no longer leaning on your hands while using your walker. |
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| Stair
Climbing and Descending |
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The
ability to go up and down stairs requires both flexibility
and strength. At first, you will need a handrail for support
and you will only be able to go 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 those of
the standard height of seven inches and always use the
handrail for balance. |
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Advanced
Exercises and Activities
A full recovery will take many months. The pain from your problem hip
before your surgery and the pain and swelling after surgery have weakened
your hip muscles. The following exercises and activities will help your
hip muscles recover fully.
These exercises should be done in 10 repetitions four times a day with
one end of the tubing around the ankle of your operated leg and the opposite
end of the tubing attached to a stationary object such as a locked door
or heavy furniture. Hold on to a chair or bar for balance. |
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| Elastic
Tube Exercises |
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Stand
with your feet slightly apart. Bring your operated leg forward
keeping the knee straight. Allow your leg to return to its
previous position. |
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| Resistive
Hip Abduction |
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Stand
sideways from the door and extend your operated leg out to
the side. Allow your leg to return to its previous position. |
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| Resistive
Hip Extensions |
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Face
the door or heavy object to which the tubing is attached
and pull your leg straight back. Allow your leg to return
to its previous position. |
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Exercycling
Exercycling is an excellent activity to help you regain muscle strength
and hip mobility. Adjust the seat height so that the bottom of
your foot just touches the pedal with your knee almost straight.
Pedal backwards at first. Pedal forward only after comfortable
cycling motion is possible backwards. As you become stronger (at
about 4 to 6 weeks) slowly increase the tension on the exercycle.
Exercycle forward 10 to 15 minutes twice a day, gradually building
up to 20 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week.
Walking
Take a cane with you until you have regained your balance skills. In
the beginning, walk 5 or 10 minutes 3 or 4 times a day. As your strength
and endurance improves, you can walk for 20 or 30 minutes 2 or 3 times
a day. Once you have fully recovered, regular walks, 20 or 30 minutes
3 or 4 times a week, will help maintain your strength. |
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