Hip Surgery Exercise Guide
Regular hip exercises to restore your normal hip motion and strength and a gradual return to everyday activities are important for your full recovery. Dr. Samimi recommends that you exercise 20 to 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a day during your early recovery. The following are some of the suggested hip surgery exercises.
Early Postoperative Exercises
These exercises are important for increasing circulation to your legs and feet to prevent blood clots. They also are important to strengthen muscles and to improve your hip movement. You may begin these exercises in the recovery room shortly after hip surgery. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but these hip surgery exercises will speed your recovery and reduce your postoperative pain. These exercises should be done as you lie on your back with your legs spread slightly apart.
Ankle Pumps
Slowly push your foot up and down. Do this exercise several times as often as every 5 or 10 minutes. This exercise can begin immediately after surgery and continue until you are fully recovered.
Ankle Rotations
Move your ankle inward toward your other foot and then outward away from your other foot. Repeat 5 times in each direction, 3 sessions a day.
Bed-Supported Knee Bends
Slide your heel toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping your heel on the bed. Do not let your knee roll inward. Repeat 10 times, 3 sessions a day.
Buttock Contractions
Tighten buttock muscles and hold to a count of 5. Repeat 10 times, 3 sessions a day.
Abduction Exercise
Slide your leg out to the side as far as you can and then back. Repeat 10 times, 3 sessions a day.
Quadriceps Set
Tighten your thigh muscle. Try to straighten your knee. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times or until fatigued. Repeat 3 sessions a day.
Straight Leg Raises
Tighten your thigh muscle with your knee fully straightened on the bed. As your thigh muscle tightens, lift your leg several inches off the bed. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Slowly lower. Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued.
Standing Exercises
Soon after your surgery, you will be out of bed and able to stand. You will require help since you may become dizzy the first several times you stand. As you regain your strength, you will be able to stand independently. While doing these standing exercises, make sure you are holding on to a firm surface such as a bar attached to your bed or a wall.
Standing Knee Raises
Lift your operated leg toward your chest. Do not lift your knee higher than your waist. Hold for 2 or 3 counts and put your leg down. Repeat 10 times, 3 sessions a day.
Standing Hip Abduction
Be sure your hip, knee, and foot are pointing straight forward. Keep your body straight. With your knee straight, lift your leg out to the side. Slowly lower your leg so your foot is back on the floor. Repeat 10 times, 3 sessions a day.
Standing Hip Extensions
Lift your operated leg backward slowly. Try to keep your back straight. Hold for 3 counts and then return your foot to the floor. Repeat 10 times, 3 sessions a day.
Walking and Early Activity
Soon after surgery, you will begin to walk short distances in your hospital room and perform light everyday activities. This early activity helps your recovery by helping your hip muscles regain strength and movement.
Stair Climbing and Descending
The ability to go up and down stairs requires both flexibility and strength. At first, you will need a handrail for support and you will only be able to go one step at a time. Always lead up the stairs with your good leg and down the stairs with your operated leg. Remember "up with the good" and "down with the bad." You may want to have someone help you until you have regained most of your strength and mobility. Stair climbing is an excellent strengthening and endurance activity. Do not try to climb steps higher than those of the standard height of seven inches and always use the handrail for balance.
Advanced Exercises and Activities
A full recovery will take many months. The pain from your problem hip before your surgery and the pain and swelling after surgery have weakened your hip muscles. The following exercises and activities will help your hip muscles recover fully.
These exercises should be done in 10 repetitions 3 times a day with one end of the tubing around the ankle of your operated leg and the opposite end of the tubing attached to a stationary object such as a locked door or heavy furniture. Hold on to a chair or bar for balance.
Resistive Hip Flexion
Stand with your feet slightly apart. Bring your operated leg forward keeping the knee straight. Allow your leg to return to its previous position.
Resistive Hip Abduction
Stand sideways from the door and extend your operated leg out to the side. Allow your leg to return to its previous position.
Resistive Hip Extensions
Face the door or heavy object to which the tubing is attached and pull your leg straight back. Allow your leg to return to its previous position.
Exercise Bike
Exercycling is an excellent activity to help you regain muscle strength and hip mobility. Adjust the seat height so that the bottom of your foot just touches the pedal with your knee almost straight. Pedal backwards at first. Pedal forward only after comfortable cycling motion is possible backwards. As you become stronger (at about 4 to 6 weeks) slowly increase the tension on the exercycle. Exercycle forward 10 to 15 minutes twice a day, gradually building up to 20 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week.
Walking
Take a cane with you until you have regained your balance skills. In the beginning, walk 5 or 10 minutes 3 or 4 times a day. As your strength and endurance improves, you can walk for 20 or 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a day. Once you have fully recovered, regular walks, 20 or 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week, will help maintain your strength.
