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Exercises before hip replacement surgery

Description

Having stronger muscles around your hip and in your legs will speed your recovery after surgery.

Exercises stretch and strengthen your muscles

Heel slides

What it does: Strengthens the muscles in the front of your leg.

How to do it:

  • Lie flat on your back on a couch or bed.
  • Bend your knee and slide your heel toward your bottom. Your heel should remain in contact with the couch or bed.
  • Do one leg, then the other.

Gluteal squeeze

What it does: Makes your hip muscles stronger.

How to do it:

  • Lie on your back on a couch or bed.
  • Squeeze your buttock muscles (your bottom) together, as tightly as you can.

Ankle pumps

What it does: Makes the muscles in your calf stronger, and the tendons and ligaments in your ankle and foot more mobile.

How to do it:

  • Lie flat on your back on a couch or bed.
  • Point your foot and toes away from you.
  • Flex your ankle and point your foot and toes up back towards your body.

Hip abduction and adduction

What it does: Makes your hip muscles stronger and stretches your hip joint.

How to do the exercise on your back:

  • Lie on your back on a couch or bed.
  • Slowly slide your leg out to the side, as far as possible, like a clock hand.
  • Keep your toes pointed up towards the ceiling and your knee straight.
  • Bring your leg back to the starting point.
  • Repeat a few times, then do the other leg.

How to do the exercise on your side:

  • Lie on your side on a couch or bed.
  • Slowly lift your leg that is on the top towards the ceiling. Keep your knee straight.
  • Hold it for a few seconds and bring it back down to the starting point.
  • Repeat the exercise a few times and then turn on your other side to lift your other leg.

Quads or knee extension 1 (Short Arc)

What it does: Strengthens the muscles in the front of your leg (quadriceps or quads).

How to do it:

  • Lie on your back on a couch or bed.
  • Place a rolled towel under your knee.
  • Tighten your thigh muscles and lift your lower leg until your leg is straight.
  • The back of your knee should remain in contact with the roll.
  • Hold your leg in this position, while slowly counting to five (5).
  • Relax and return to the starting position.

Quads or knee extension 2 (Long Arc)

What it does: Strengthens the muscles in the front of your leg (quadriceps or quads).

How to do it:

  • Sit with your back against the back of the chair.
  • Tighten your thigh muscles and lift your lower leg, until your leg is straight.
  • Slowly count to five (5) out loud.
  • Relax and return to the starting position.

Swimming

Exercises in the water may be the best exercise for your arthritic hip. The water reduces the weight and stress on your hip as you "walk" about in the shallow end of the pool. Lap swimming is excellent. It involves the use of most of your body muscles. Elliptical can be better than biking as it requires less movement of your hip joint.

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Review Date: 12/31/2018

Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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