Recovery time after a hip replacement surgery
- Recovery time after a hip replacement
- Time for discharge from hospital
- Approximate time to return to work
- Time to get back to sport
- Bibliography
- Frequent Questions
Recovery time after a hip replacement
After a hip replacement surgery, rehabilitation and adaptation to recovery times are just as important, if not more so, in order to achieve a complete and much faster improvement. Below, we will explain the stages and their duration that you should take into account during the postoperative period.
First of all, it is worth mentioning that the recovery time varies for each patient, with determining factors being their state of health, the deterioration of the joint due to the disease, the quality of the bone, the type of surgery performed and finally the type of hip prosthesis. Therefore, the times mentioned in this article are approximate.
Time for discharge from hospital
Discharges usually take place four to five days after surgery. In order to be discharged, the patient must meet certain minimum requirements:
- Be able to walk with crutches and be able to get out of bed into a chair and vice versa.
- Not suffer pain under the prescribed analgesic medication.
- Analytical and radiological controls must be correct.
Although crutches are required, doctors advise starting to support the leg as soon as possible to speed up recovery.
After leaving the hospital, you will require rehabilitation assisted by a physiotherapist or, alternatively, an exercise programme to improve the mobility and strength of the joint in which the hip prosthesis has been implanted. This will allow you to reduce recovery times while improving the effectiveness of the hip replacement.
If you are looking for the right specialist near you, here you can consult our physiotherapists who are experts in hip rehabilitation and with whom you have 5 or 10 sessions vouchers available:
Approximate time to return to work
In this case, the time will vary depending on the type of work to be done. If it is a job that does not require much physical effort, it can be started from the second month after the surgery. If, on the other hand, it is a job that requires greater functional demands, the time to return to work could be delayed by up to 4 months.
Time to get back to sport
Surgeons recommend starting to support the leg immediately after the operation. This practice allows rehabilitation to begin as soon as possible, avoiding the usual loss of muscle mass. Gentle sports practice can be started from the second month onwards. In the first place, it is recommended to start practising sports by walking as much as you can bear, the use of a pair of trekking poles being quite useful, as they allow you to avoid concentrating all the effort on the lower limbs.
Other sports that can be started from the second month onwards are swimming, with which you just have to be careful when getting in and out of the pool to avoid bending your hips too much, exercise cycling or golf if necessary.
On the other hand, it will take between 4 and 6 months, depending on the progress of rehabilitation and the type of prosthesis, to return to sports that require intense exercise. Despite this, there are sports that will not be allowed in some cases depending on the type of hip prosthesis used, surface or conventional, such as contact sports like football or rugby, or others that are more intense for the hip, such as snowboarding.
Rehabilitation and recovery times after hip replacement surgery, as mentioned above, vary depending on many patient-specific factors.
The approximate time to return to sexual intercourse is approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the operation, with the improvement in both performance and self-esteem of patients being very common due to the increased flexibility and mobility with the prosthesis.
The most important thing when undergoing a hip replacement surgery is the improvement in the quality of life that the patient obtains, recovering full mobility and independence.
Assess your hip problem with our surgeon
Request a free and immediate surgical consultation with our specialist in Traumatology.
Make an appointmentBibliography
- Ortiz, F., Rincón, M., & Mendoza, J. C. (2016). Texto de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación. El Manual Moderno Colombia S.A.S. https://books.google.es/books?id=7HE3DwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&hl=es&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
- Sociedad Valenciana Medicina Física y Rehabilitación. (2014, diciembre). Ejercicios para pacientes intervenidos de Prótesis Total de Cadera. http://svmefr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/MODIFICACI%C3%93N-Ejercicios-PTC2.pdf
Medical disclaimer: All the published content in Operarme is intended to disseminate reliable medical information to the general public, and is reviewed by healthcare professionals. In any case should this information be used to perform a diagnosis, indicate a treatment, or replace the medical assessment of a professional in a face to face consultation. Find more information in the links below:
Frequent Questions
What exercises are good for hips with prostheses?
Some of the movements or exercises that are recommended after hip replacement surgery are:
- Contraction of the abdominal muscles and the quadriceps of the affected leg.
- Moving the leg outwards in an attempt to abduct the lower limb.
- Strengthening of the ankles with flexion and extension movements.
How to reduce hip pain?
Some tips to reduce hip pain after a hip replacement surgery are:
- Do not spend more than 30 - 45 minutes sitting in the same position or without getting up.
- Avoid crossing your legs.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach or on the operated hip.
- When getting in and out of a vehicle, stairs,... avoid excessive bending of the hip.