It was with some horror that I listened to a recent patient inform me that her surgeon here on the coast had advised her to wait 12 weeks before starting rehabilitation and physiotherapy after her hip replacement. 12 weeks!

During my military training the physio arrived the first day you woke up after surgery! Move it or lose it!

In the UK as a whole the physio is usually heavily involved in the process of orthopaedic surgery (and so many more now!):

Before your operation

• Your physio ensures you have your crutches and know how to use them.
• Teaches you any tips for things like going to the toilet or general movement
• Makes sure that you are set up at home for what you need.
• Explains what will happen with exercises and rehab after your operation.

Generally makes sure you are prepared for real life after your operation! Nothing worse than having to learn things fresh when you are already groggy from anaesthetic and really need to go to the bathroom!

After your operation

 Your physio should be one of the first people you see when you wake up – teaching you how to move, making sure you remember how to use your crutches and go to the toilet, starting your exercises. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish!

Rehabilitation

1. Get assessed – you and your hip are individual. There are 72 structures in each hip (muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones . . .) and 2 hips that work together. So make sure that you are doing the best thing for YOUR situation.
2. Unlearn the patterns – it took 30, 40, 50, 60 years to walk that damage in – make sure that you learn new (better?) patterns so you don’t continue the same damage.
3. MOVE – old fashioned hip protocols are a long list of things you can’t do – don’t move this way, don’t move that way . . . . . but the latest research suggests that in most cases ALL movement is good. (there are some people who need to be careful – see point 1!)

Early start = early finish

For the best results start early (even before your operation!).

The sooner you start, the sooner you finish and get back your full mobility.

A hip replacement should stop pain and give you back your movement. If it doesn’t what is the point?

Think you need some additional support pre or post hip operation? Book your assessment now and get clear support and answers to make the operation a success!