The Role of Exercise After Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery is a major operation and with appropriate rehabilitation it will take you a few months to recover from it. Exercise and physiotherapy form an important part of this recovery period and its importance can not be stressed enough.
Soon after surgery you will be restricted to bed for a few days, with movement kept to the minimum. While you may not spend more than 3 to 5 days in hospital, the time span for full recovery may extend to 3 to 6 months. The length of time you take to recover fully will depend on your individual needs as well as the type of surgery and the kind of rehabilitation you are undergoing. Every individual’s body reacts in its own special way; thus rehabilitation too is a very individual and unique process.
Exercise starts almost immediately after the surgery. Initially a physical therapist will teach you how to relax and contract certain muscles so as to strengthen the hip. When greater movement is allowed the therapist will help you through exercises that help in the recovery process. You will also be shown how to use your new hip effectively. The range of movement that an artificial hip allows is less than a natural one. Thus you may have to relearn different techniques for performing every day functions like bending, lifting and sitting.
In the initial weeks certain movements will be restricted. It is strongly recommended that you avoid movements that require you to twist your hips, bend or lift. In short, anything that makes you put unnecessary pressure on the hip. Gradually as your body recovers and the muscles gain strength, your range of movements will also increase.
The process of rehabilitation carries on over a considerable period of time and by being patient and diligent you can make it a success. A regular exercise program developed with the help of the doctor and physiotherapist will go a long way in making recovery smoother.
In the early post operative period, exercises focus on reducing stiffness in the muscles and increasing flexibility. Attention is also given to improving blood circulation in the legs and feet so as to prevent blood clots from forming. At this time your doctor may recommend that you exercise for 20 to 30 minutes at a time at least 2 to 3 time every day.
Once you start returning to every day activities, the regime will change accordingly. The focus will now shift to muscle strengthening. Apart from a specialized exercise regime, doctors also recommend activities like walking, cross country skiing, swimming and stationary cycling. These activities do not pose a risk to the new hip. Further they help build muscle and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Any high impact activities like running, tennis or basketball is to be strictly avoided. These activities can cause the artificial hip to loosen and can also damage it in other ways as well.
The role of exercise in the post operative period of hip replacement surgery can not be stressed enough. Each stage has its own focus and the exercise routine will be devised around that. By following the regime faithfully you will soon return to normal life.
