Patient/caregiver was instructed upon exercises to help after hip replacement surgery as follows:

Pain in the surgical joint can be a deterrent for participation in the therapy session. Taking a pain medication 30 minutes before the exercise schedule can help with better pain control and improved compliance with therapy.

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.

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.

Based on the condition of the surgical 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.

  1. Seated knee flexion: This exercise strengthens quadriceps muscle, the big muscle on the front of the thigh. This muscle helps with flexing or bending the hip during walking, running, standing to sitting posture, climbing stairs, jumping, and squatting. You can sit in the chair with legs relaxed and stretched out in front of you and toes pointing straight forward. To perform this exercise, draw the leg to be exercised back against the floor closer to the chair to the extent possible. Once the leg is closest to the edge of the chair, hold it for a count of 5, stretch the leg out and relax. Then you can repeat the task by bringing the leg closer to edge of chair, holding it for a count of 5, and then stretching the leg out again. Repeat this pattern for 10 – 15 sets of seated knee flexion exercises.
  2. Kicking back: To perform this exercise, you can lie in the bed on the abdomen with legs relaxed and stretched out behind. Draw the leg to be exercised up towards the ceiling to the extent possible. This exercise helps strengthen the hamstrings muscles on the back of the thigh, which helps with straightening the hip joint. Once the leg is drawn closest to the maximum possible, hold it for a count of 5, lower it down and relax. Repeat this pattern for 10 – 15 sets of kicking back exercises.