EVIDENCE REVIEWS

Guide to Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip Exercise

  • It is important to strengthen your hip prior to surgery and to gradually increase both the strength and range of motion in your new hip following surgery.

  • The following exercises should be done on both legs before and after surgery to improve your recovery.  Do a little at a time but often.  To start, do the exercises at least twice a day with 5 to 10 repetitions of each, gradually increasing the frequency.

  • Do all exercises slowly and with control.

Exercise # 1

Lying on your back, roll your leg inward only until toes point toward ceiling.  Hold 5 seconds.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 2

Bend your _____ hip and knee, sliding your heel along the bed toward your buttocks.  Keep your knee facing the ceiling.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 3

Slide your _____ leg out to the side and back to mid-line only.  Keep your knee straight and facing the ceiling.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 4

Place a roll under your _____ knee.  Straighten the knee, lifting your foot off the bed.  Hold 5 seconds, then lower foot slowly.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 5

Sitting with your thigh supported, straighten your _____ knee and lift the foot off the floor.  Hold 5 seconds, then lower slowly.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 6

Sitting with _____ foot on a smooth surface, slide foot back towards chair.  Hold 5 seconds, then slide foot forward.  Repeat _____

When doing the following standing exercises, remember to keep an upright posture and tuck in your pelvis and buttocks.

Exercise # 7

Standing with support, keep your back and leg straight, move your _____ leg out to the side, then back to mid-line.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 8

Standing with support, keep your back and leg straight, extend your _____ leg behind you.  Do not lean forward.   Repeat _____

Exercise # 9

Standing with support, lift your _____ knee in front of you.  Repeat _____

Exercise # 10

Standing with support, bend your _____ knee, lifting your heel toward your buttocks.  Hold 5 seconds.  Repeat _____

 

<< Hip movement precautions Going Home >>

 

 

Links to next step:

  1. Your Journey
  2. What is a total hip replacement
  3. Be prepared for your surgery
  4. Things to do.
  5. More do's and don'ts
  6. What to bring to the hospital
  7. Be prepared for your discharge
  8. The day of surgery
  9. After surgery
  10. Hip movement precautions
  11. Hip Exercise
  12. Going home
  13. Activity Guidelines
  14. When to contact your doctor

Hospital Care Plan:

HTML Total Hip Replacement Care Plan
PDF Total Hip Replacement Care Plan
     
© 2006 Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute