Patient/caregiver was instructed upon exercises to help prepare for hip joint replacement surgery as follows:

  1. Pain in the joint can be a deterrent for participation in the exercise schedule. Taking a pain medication 30 minutes before the exercise schedule can help with better pain control and improved compliance with therapy.
  2. Placing an ice pack on the hip joint for 30 minutes before and after the therapy session can add to control of pain and swelling in the joint.
  3. These sets of exercises to strengthen the hip are to be performed 3 – 4 times every day. Fix scheduled time slots during your day to perform your hip exercises.
  4. Individuals strengthening their muscles around the hip joint before surgery can have an easier and faster recovery from the hip replacement surgery.
  5. Based on the condition of the hip and other coexisting factors, limitations could be recommended on performance of some exercises in some individuals. Check with your physician and therapist for any limitations recommended before performing these exercises.

Clamshells exercises:

  1. This exercise helps with strengthening the hip muscles, which is important for weightbearing and balance after surgery.
  2. You can lie on your side with the leg to be exercised up and facing the ceiling. Maintain the legs slightly bent at the knees in front of you and toes pointing straight forward.
  3. Keeping both the heels together, and hips & shoulders tucked in, slowly lift the upper knee and lower it back to the start point to join the other.
  4. This exercise resembles opening and closing of a clamshell. Repeat this pattern for 10 – 15 sets of clamshell exercises.

Short arc quad exercises:

  1. This exercise strengthens quadriceps muscle, the big muscle on the front of the thigh.
  2. This muscle helps with flexing or bending the hip during walking, running, standing to sitting posture, climbing stairs, jumping, and squatting.
  3. You can sit in the bed or on any firm surface, legs stretched out in front of you on the bed, with the knee and toes pointing straight up.
  4. Roll up 2 bedsheets into a bundle and place the bundle on the back of the knee. The knee now will be bent across the bundle of bedsheets.
  5. With the back of the knee on the bundle of bedsheets and knee bent over the bedsheet bundle, lift the lower leg up and straighten the knee.
  6. Once the knee is straight, hold the limb in the same position for a count of 5 seconds.
  7. After 5 seconds, you can bend the knee and relax for 5 seconds.
  8. Then you can repeat the task by lifting the lower leg up, straightening the knee over the bundle of bedsheets, and holding the limb in position for a count of 5 seconds, and then relaxing by bending the knee for 5 seconds.
  9. Repeat this pattern for 10 – 15 sets of short arc quad exercises.