Hip Replacement Guide Exercise
Early Postoperative Exercises
The following exercises will help increase circulation to your legs and feet, which is important for preventing blood clots. They will also help strengthen your muscles and improve knee movement.
Start the exercises as soon as you are able. You can begin them in the recovery room shortly after surgery. You may feel uncomfortable at first, but these exercises will help speed your recovery and actually diminish your postoperative pain.
Repeat this exercise approximately 10 times during a two-minute period, rest one minute, and then repeat. Continue until your thigh feels fatigued.
Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued.
You also can do leg raises while sitting. Tighten your thigh muscle and hold your knee fully straightened with your leg unsupported. Repeat as above.
Continue these exercises periodically until full strength returns to your thigh.
Move your foot up and down rhythmically by contracting your calf and shin muscles. Perform this exercise for 2 to 3 minutes, 2 or 3 times an hour in the recovery room.
Continue this exercise until you are fully recovered and all ankle and lower-leg swelling has subsided.
Place a small rolled towel just above your heel so that your heel is not touching the bed. Tighten your thigh. Try to fully straighten your knee and to touch the back of your knee to the bed. Hold fully straightened for 5 to 10 seconds.
Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued.
Slide your foot toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping your heel on the bed. Hold your knee in a maximally bent position for 5 to 10 seconds and then straighten.
Repeat several times until your leg feels fatigued or until you can completely bend your knee.
While sitting at your bedside or in a chair with your thigh supported, place your foot behind the heel of your operated knee for support. Slowly bend your knee as far as you can. Hold your knee in this position for 5 to 10 seconds.
Repeat several times until your leg feels fatigued or until you can completely bend your knee.
While sitting at bedside or in a chair with your thigh supported, bend your knee as far as you can until your foot rests on the floor. With your foot lightly resting on the floor, slide your upper body forward in the chair to increase your knee bend. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Straighten your knee fully.
Repeat several times until your leg feels fatigued or until you can completely bend your knee.
Proper walking is the best way to help your knee recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg.
Stand comfortably and erect with your weight evenly balanced on your walker or crutches. Advance your walker or crutches a short distance; then reach forward with your operated leg with your knee straightened so the heel of your foot touches the floor first. As you move forward, your knee and ankle will bend and your entire foot will rest evenly on the floor. As you complete the step, your toe will lift off the floor and your knee and hip will bend so that you can reach forward for your next step. Remember, touch your heel first, then flatten your foot, then lift your toes off the floor.
Advanced Exercises and Activities
Once you have regained independence for short distances and a few steps, you may increase your activity. The pain of your knee problems before surgery and the pain and swelling after surgery have weakened your knee. A full recovery will take many months. The following exercises and activities will help you recover fully.
Lying on your back, place a folded towel over your operated knee and drop the towel to your foot. Bend your knee and apply gentle pressure through the towel to increase the bend. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds.
Repeat several times until fatigued.
You can place light weights around your ankle and repeat any of the above exercises. These resistance exercises usually can begin 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery. Use one- to two-pound weights at first; gradually increase the weight as your strength returns. (Inexpensive wrap-around ankle weights with Velcro straps can be purchased at most sporting goods stores.)
Exercycling is an excellent activity to help you regain muscle strength and knee mobility.
At first, adjust the seat height so that the bottom of your foot just touches the pedal with your knee almost straight. Peddle backwards at first. Ride forward only after a comfortable cycling motion is possible backwards.
As you become stronger (at about 4 to 6 weeks) slowly increase the tension on the exercycle. Exercycle for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day, gradually build up to 20 to 30 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week.
Pain or Swelling after Exercise
You may experience knee pain or swelling after exercise or activity. You can relieve this by elevating your leg and applying ice wrapped in a towel.
Exercise and activity should consistently improve your strength and mobility. If you have any questions or problems, contact your orthopaedic surgeon or physical therapist.
