Physical Therapy After a Total Hip Replacement
A total hip replacement surgery is a common orthopedic surgery performed due to arthritis or certain hip fractures to relieve severe pain, improve hip mobility, and restore function. A hip replacement involves removing damaged bone and cartilage from the hip joint and replacing it with prosthetic parts. Physical therapists play an important role in pre-surgery preparation and post-hip replacement rehabilitation, helping to improve mobility, manage pain, regain strength, and restore function in your new hip.
A total hip replacement is a common orthopedic surgery performed to relieve severe pain, improve mobility of the hip joint, and restore or improve the ability to perform functional activities. A total hip replacement removes damaged bone and cartilage from the femur (ball of the hip joint) and hip bone/pelvic bone (socket of the hip joint) and replaces it with prosthetic parts made of metal or durable synthetic materials.
Total hip replacement is often the last treatment option after conservative treatments have failed to treat osteoarthritis of the hip, rheumatoid arthritis, loss of bone tissue, or certain hip fractures.
The more prepared you are for hip replacement surgery, the more likely you are to have a successful recovery. One of the key ways to prepare for hip replacement surgery is through pre-surgery physical therapy, or “prehabilitation.” Prehabilitation is an exercise conditioning program to increase a patient’s stamina, flexibility, and joint mobility; normalize movement patterns prior to surgery; and enhance overall fitness.
Nearly 90% of people who undergo hip replacement surgery feel better and can get back to normal activities within a few months and sometimes even weeks after surgery. Rehabilitation generally takes between 4-6 weeks post-surgery to feel stronger, have less pain, and have greater ease in walking.
Physical therapists play an important role on your healthcare team, helping you prepare for and successfully recover from a hip replacement. Physical therapists help you restore movement and range of motion post-surgery and strengthen your hip and leg muscles. Outpatient physical therapy is critical in the four to six weeks post-surgery to help you return to your daily activities, work, and sports.
Physical therapy after a total hip replacement can include:
Pain management using ice and heat modalities: heat is used to warm up tight muscles prior to exercise and ice is used to reduce swelling and soreness after exercise.
Range of motion exercises involve gentle movements to progressively restore full range of motion to the hip as the hip heals.
Flexibility and stretching exercises help to loosen up muscles and tendons and prevent scar tissue from building up.
Targeted muscle strengthening, particularly of the hip and leg muscles, is critical to provide support to the new hip and ensure ease of movement and restored mobility.
Balance training works to help your muscles relearn to respond to changes in your environment. The therapist will progress you to agility exercises to regain full movement in the hip.
Proper posture and body mechanic training is critical as proper walking is one of the best ways to help your hip recover.
Functional training specific to your work and sports activities helps you return to work and sport with confidence that your new hip can handle the tasks with strength.
