Hip surgery can be a daunting prospect; however, with the right approach, you can get back on your feet and enjoy your life. Hip surgery is a general term for a variety of procedures performed on the hip joint. These surgeries are often necessary to treat conditions like:
Arthritis
Hip fractures
Hip dysplasia
Some common types of hip surgery include:
Hip resurfacing
Femoral osteotomy
Hip surgery is one of the most common kinds of surgery done on joints in the U.S., with approximately 540,000 hip replacement surgeries done each year alone.
How long is hip surgery recovery?
The length of recovery after hip surgery depends on several factors, including:
Your surgery type
Your overall health
How well you follow recovery instruction
The first few weeks after your surgery are crucial for healing. You’ll likely experience pain, swelling and limited mobility. It’s important to listen to your body and avoid putting too much stress on your hip. As you progress, you can gradually regain your strength and flexibility.
As the most common type of hip surgery, we’ll dive into hip replacement surgery. The recovery time for a hip replacement surgery will vary from person to person. Factors that can impact your healing process include:
Your overall health
Your age
Postsurgical guidance adherence
However, a general timeline for recovery may look like the following:
Short-term recovery — This period covers the initial weeks after surgery.
You’ll likely go home after a few days in the hospital.
You’ll learn to effectively manage your pain, which is crucial.
You’ll begin physical therapy to help you regain strength and mobility.
Medium-term recovery — This is the period following your initial recovery.
As your recovery progresses, you should be able to slowly resume your normal activities.
You’ll continue to go to physical therapy for improving strength and flexibility.
You’ll likely see a gradual decrease in your pain level.
Long-term recovery — This is the period once your wound is fully healed and your rehabilitation is completed.
You may achieve full recovery.
You should be able to return to your previous level of activity.
You should continue to exercise to help maintain your hip health.
This is a basic guideline; your personal experience can vary. It’s essential to follow the guidance of your surgeon and physical therapist throughout your recovery process. They will provide you with specific instructions and a better idea of timeline recovery based on your individual needs.
The role of physical therapy in hip surgery recovery
Physical therapy can be a key component in your post-hip surgery recovery. It can help:
Reduce pain and swelling
Improve range of motion
Strengthen muscles
Restore balance and coordination
Prevent complications
Your physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs. It’s important to attend all of your physical therapy sessions and practice any recommended exercises at home as instructed. Your physical therapy treatment plan may include techniques such as:
Manual therapy — Manual therapy is an umbrella term for hands-on approaches physical therapists use to help hip replacement surgery recovery. It involves techniques that can help improve hip mobility, reduce pain and restore normal function. Manual therapy techniques that can help include:
Soft tissue mobilization — This technique focuses on the muscles, tendons and other soft tissue around your hip. Your physical therapist will use gentle pressure and movement to help release tension to reduce muscle tightness and spasms, improve circulation to promote healing and reduce inflammation, and increase flexibility to help boost your range of motion.
Joint mobilization — This technique involves your physical therapist carefully moving your hip joint to improve its flexibility and reduce stiffness. They will use gentle, controlled movements to increase your hip’s ability to move smoothly, ease discomfort caused by stiffness and help you do daily activities more easily.
Myofascial release — This technique focuses on releasing the tension in the fascia, a connective tissue that surrounds your muscles. Your physical therapist will apply gentle pressure to help reduce pain, improve mobility and help your tissue recover more efficiently.
Gait training — Gait training can help you relearn how to walk safely and efficiently after your hip surgery. Your physical therapist will guide you through proper walking techniques and using assistive devices like crutches or a walker correctly. They can also help address any gait abnormalities or imbalances that may appear as you learn to use your new joint.
Strengthening exercises — Building strength is essential for your recovery after hip surgery. Your physical therapist will prescribe exercises intended to target the muscles around your hip, core and lower body. These exercises can help stabilize your hip joint, improve your balance and potentially prevent future injuries.
Balance training — Balance is crucial for safely doing daily activities and preventing falls. Your physical therapist will incorporate balance exercises into your treatment plan to help improve your stability and confidence. This training may include standing on one leg, using balance boards or doing certain exercises on uneven surfaces.
Dry needling — Dry needling is a technique that should be performed by certified practitioners. A certified practitioner manually inserts thin, sterile needles into specific muscle points, which can help release muscle tension and pain. Dry needling can also help address muscle tightness or trigger points that are contributing to pain during your hip recovery surgery.
Active release therapy — Active release therapy is a soft tissue therapy that involves your physical therapist manually applying pressure to specific points while moving the affected body part. It aims to help release restrictions in muscles, tendons and fascia; improve flexibility; and reduce pain.
Electrical stimulation — Electrical stimulation is a technique that involves electrodes, placed on or around the affected area, that deliver low-level electrical currents to muscles to help them contract. These currents can help reduce pain, improve muscle strength and promote healing.
Aquatic therapy — Aquatic therapy involves doing exercises in water, which provides buoyancy and reduces weight-bearing stress on the hip joint. These exercises can help improve your hip range of motion, strength and cardiovascular fitness while also minimizing pain.
The specific type of physical therapy techniques your physical therapist will use will depend on your individual needs and recovery stage. Your plan can be adjusted as needed if you progress faster than expected or if you experience setbacks.
Tips that may help shorten your recovery time
While there’s no guaranteed way to speed up your recovery process and you shouldn’t force yourself to recover by a certain time, there are several strategies that may help you get back on your feet more quickly:
Follow your doctor’s orders — This includes taking medications as prescribed, going to follow-up appointments and avoiding activities that put unnecessary stress on your hip.
Prioritize physical therapy — Regular physical therapy sessions are essential to a successful recovery.
Manage pain effectively — Pain can hinder your recovery, so it’s important to manage it effectively. Discuss your pain management options with your doctor. Let them know if you are experiencing more pain than should be expected.
Get plenty of rest — Your body needs time to heal, so make sure you get enough rest.
Maintain a healthy weight — Being overweight can put extra stress on your hip. Making sure you maintain a healthy weight can help with your recovery.
Eat a balanced diet — Eating a nutritious diet helps provide your body with nutrients it needs to heal.
Stay hydrated — Drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins and keep your body hydrated.
Manage stress — Stress can slow down the healing process. Embrace healthy ways to manage your stress.
Build a support system — Having people around you to help you with daily tasks can make a big difference in your recovery.
Remember, everyone’s recovery journey is different. Be patient with yourself. Give yourself grace if you experience setbacks, and celebrate as you see progress, no matter how big or small. With dedication and proper care, you can make strides toward recovery and a return to your favorite activities.
Your path to wellness after hip surgery begins with KC Rehab
Recovering from hip surgery can be a challenging journey, but with the right support, you can regain your mobility and independence. At KC Rehab, our experienced physical therapists are dedicated to helping you achieve your recovery goals after hip surgery. Through a personalized treatment plan and compassionate care, we strive to provide comprehensive support to address your specific needs. We believe in empowering our patients to take an active role in their recovery, and we are committed to helping you return to the activities you love.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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