Disclaimer: Please note that Weitz & Luxenberg is not a medical institution. Please consult with your doctor or other medical professional before attempting any medical treatment or rehabilitation program.

Quick Hip Replacement Surgery Facts:

• There are more than 193,000 total hip replacement surgeries performed in the United States each year.
• The very first hip replacement surgery in the United States was performed in 1960.
• Bone diseases (that weaken the pelvis and/or femur), age and serious accidents can all necessitate hip replacement surgery.
• Most hip surgeries are performed on seniors (people aged 60 and older) but young people are sometimes eligible.

You have just had hip replacement surgery. What types of exercises should you do?

Immediately after hip replacement surgery, rehabilitation begins, and exercise is a major component of that process.  A trained medical professional, or team of medical professionals, will select the best types of exercises for you to do, while taking your age and the nature of your hip surgery into consideration. The primary objective of exercising after hip surgery is to restore strength in atrophied muscles surrounding the hip, and assist the body in becoming accustomed to the artificial implant. 

Not only will the following exercises help your hip recovery, it will also, in conjunction with whatever other instructions your medical professional issues, help to improve your overall physical fitness so that you can engage in your beloved activities as soon as possible:

Weitz & Luxenberg updates these pages with the latest available information on issues pertaining to hip replacement surgery, including the recalled DePuy hip implants. If you have experienced complications following traditional hip replacement surgery, and would like to know what legal avenue to pursue, please contact Weitz & Luxenberg.

Straight leg raises:

• “Bend the knee of your uninvolved leg (the one that wasn't operated on) to a 90-degree angle, and keep your foot flat on the surface. Keep your operated leg straight without the knee bent.” (About.com)
• “Slowly lift the operated leg six inches off the floor (by contracting the front thigh muscles). Hold for five seconds.” (About.com)
• “Slowly lower your leg to the floor, relax and repeat 10 more times.” (About.com)

Heel slides:

• Sit with your legs straight out.
• Bend your knee, keep your foot on the ground and inch your heel towards your buttocks.
• “Slowly straighten your knee and slide your leg back to the starting position.” (About.com)
• “Relax and repeat 10 more times.” (About.com)

Gluteal Sets:

• Lie on your back with your knees slightly bent( around 10 to 15 degrees)
• Squeeze your gluteus maximus (buttocks) together
• Hold your position for 5- 10 seconds, then release.
• “Repeat 10 more times.” (About.com)
• “Perform 3 sets of 10, 3 times a day.” (About.com)

Have you had a hip replacement with a posterior incision?

If you have received a total hip replacement with a posterior incision, there are certain movements that medical professionals say to avoid, because they may dislocate your hip prosthesis. They are:

• Hip flexion past 90 degrees
• Crossing your operated leg over your non operative leg
• Walking pigeon toed (internal rotation of the hip)

(About.com)

Note: According to medical professionals, it is not advisable to overexert yourself, especially in the days following you hip replacement surgery. Adding stress to the body will only hinder the heeling process.

The attorneys at Weitz & Luxenberg have over two decades of practice experience and we are ready, willing and able to assist you. If you have received a defective hip implant, such as those manufactured by DePuy, please contact us.

Acknowledgements:

About.com: www.about.com

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS):

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00377

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