Therapy at Home

The majority of your therapy and rehabilitation will occur once you have checked out of the hospital. According to your surgeon’s prescription, the PT will design an exercise program to increase the motion and strength of your hip. Most of the exercises will be the type you can do at home if you wish. No equipment will be required for these exercises except a pillow. Your PT will give you a list of exercises you should perform on a daily basis,. Your PT will also teach you each exercise, making sure you know proper form before you begin.

The rate and effectiveness of your rehabilitation is completely dependent on your commitment to the physical therapy program. If you perform all the exercises that your PT assigns to you and avoid situations which will place physical stress upon your hip or leg, your recovery should proceed according to schedule, and you be in better shape once the rehabilitation is complete.

Physical Therapy

The PT will give you some tips on preparing your house for rehabilitation, on how you should sleep, get out of bed, sit, get up, and walk following surgery.

Shortly after the surgery is completed, the PT will contact you to discuss beginning therapy. Judging from you postoperative reports, and in consultation with your surgeon, your PT will determine when and how you should begin your rehabilitation program and what exercises you should be doing.

You will start off with a walker, after that you will walk These bars allow you to practice walking by supporting part of your body weight with your arms rather than on your affected hip and leg. As you become more comfortable with walking, your PT may allow you to practice walking on the hospital unit with assistance.

It is recommended that you wear a short robe and low-heeled walking shoes when learning to walk with a walker or crutches.

Before you go home, the PT will teach you to climb stairs and transfer from a bed, chair, and car. Your PT may also give you a list of exercises to be performed at home, every day. The objective is to help you become as independent as possible in your personal care and daily activities before you return home. Physical therapy will also help prepare you for more intensive rehabilitation.

Diet

While your new hip will be supporting your weight just as your old hip once did, it is important to remember that this is a new part of your body and should not be strained by having to support too much weight. Your physician may suggest a weight-control diet to help you achieve and maintain your ideal weight. A dietitian will instruct you and your family about diet and will also answer general nutrition questions.