Physical Therapy and Total Hip Replacements

By Deborah Holmes, PT

The hip joint joins the pelvis to the femur, or thighbone. Your hip is a ball and socket joint. The head of the femur is round in shape and fits nicely into the hip socket. This gives it freedom to move in many directions. The cartilage is what lines the socket and provides cushioning with weight bearing activities. When the cartilage in the hip wears away, there will cause be severe arthritis and pain.

An Artificial Hip

Depending on the advancement of the hip arthritis, your doctor may recommend surgery. Often physical therapy for pre-operative education and strengthening to the hip and supportive muscles is recommended. The more fit and active the patient is prior to surgery, the sooner they should recover and return to their daily activities.

Restoring Function

Shortly after surgery, the rehabilitation begins. Physical therapy is high priority. Leg muscles are usually weak before surgery if they have not been fully used for months or years due to pain. In the hospital, the main objective for physical therapy is to instruct hip precautions, walking with an assistive device and beginning post-surgical exercises.

Once home, the patient may be evaluated by a home physical therapist for home safety and ordering of any safety equipment needed. The exercise program is progressed as the incision site heals. The home therapist will instruct needed transfers, bed mobility, ambulation on level and stairs with changes in assistive devices. The home therapist monitors vital signs, medication reactions and communicates this to the physician and other health care staff. The continuum of care for rehabilitation continues at an outpatient physical therapy facility. In this setting, advanced exercises are instructed under supervision while also addressing any abnormal movement patterns in the gait or lower extremity complex.