WHAT EXERCISES SHOULD YOU BE DOING 8+ WEEKS POST OP TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY?

Most patients don't come to outpatient physical therapy after having their hip replaced. The surgery works so well, that the basic exercises that are given to patients at the hospital after their surgery are enough to get them back to daily life. However, most patients continue to show significant muscle strength deficits and balance deficits. These deficits can predispose patients to falling, loosening of the hip components and can limit their ability to advance to higher level function, hiking for example. To gain strength and balance to the point where patients can engage in higher level tasks, the home exercise program must progress beyond the program that is given immediately after surgery. That's what this program is for. These are the exercises that I most often use with my patients who are in this situation. They're about 8-12 weeks post op, they're doing reasonably well, but are lacking sufficient strength and balance to allow them to achieve the outcome they want. This progression of exercises can really jump start their progress. We do need to be mindful of the post-op hip movement precautions. These limits are usually in place for 6-8 weeks from the date of surgery to allow for sufficient healing of the hip to allow for more rigorous movement. This time frame can vary from patient to patient, so work with your medical provider on the appropriateness of this program for you. This content is for education purposes only. Do not use this content to self diagnose and/or self-treat any condition. Work with your medical provider on what treatment strategies are best for you.