What to expect from physical therapy after hip replacement surgery

Physical Therapy for Hip Replacement

Deciding to have a hip replacement isn’t an easy decision. However, this procedure can help reduce hip pain, and it can put you on track to increase your hip function. It’s also intended to help increase your ability to walk and do other normal daily activities. 

Hip replacements are one of the most common joint replacement surgeries; it’s estimated that in excess of 450,000 Americans have this procedure every year. Understanding what to expect from physical therapy after hip replacement surgery is vital. One thing you should understand is the type of therapeutic exercises your physical therapist could ask you to perform. 

  1. Isometric exercises

Physical therapy often starts the same day as your hip replacement, and a common form of same-day therapy is isometric exercises. These exercises are intended to get blood moving to your hip, and they can also help begin the strengthening of your hip. In addition, doing isometric exercises can help you start increasing your hip function. 

An example of an isometric exercise your physical therapist might have you do the same day as your hip replacement is the ankle pump. To do the ankle pump exercise: 

  • Hold the foot of your affected leg so that your toes are pointing toward the ceiling.
  • Slowly push your foot down and hold for two or three seconds. 
  • Then, pull your foot back up until your toes are pointing upward again. 
  • Repeat this exercise as many times as you can. 
  1. Active standing exercises

Hip replacement patients are often encouraged to stand as soon as possible after their surgery by their physical therapy specialist. Typically, your specialist will help you directly or provide you with an assistance device, like a walker. 

Once you’re able to stand, your physical therapist will likely have you start doing some gentle active exercises. Standing knee raises are an example of an active exercise you could be asked to do. To perform this exercise: 

  • Stand up and hold on to the back of a chair or a walker. 
  • Slowly raise the knee of your affected leg as far as you can without your toes leaving the floor. 
  • Hold this position for a few seconds if you can. 
  • Slowly straighten your knee and lower your foot back to the ground. 
  • Repeat this exercise between five and 10 times. 

Find out more about what to expect from physical therapy after a hip replacement at Whatcom PT

Not sure what else you can expect from post-hip replacement physical therapy? Our Whatcom Physical Therapy team is primed to answer any and all questions you have about this type of care. 

We can also evaluate your hip after surgery to pinpoint any underlying issues you need to address with your physical therapy. Then, our team can build you a personalized rehab plan. This plan can help reduce post-operative pain and help you get moving faster. It can offer these benefits thanks to therapy techniques like: 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can help you before and after your hip replacement or to schedule an initial appointment.