How Long Does it Take to Recover from Total Hip Replacement?

Have you been suffering from hip pain that makes your daily activities difficult to perform? If walking aids (cane or walker), physical therapy, or medications have not helped improve your ability to function and get around, you may want to consider speaking to your doctor about a hip replacement. However, before getting a hip replacement it is important to consider the recovery factor. The April 2011 issue of JOSPT published a research article that provides new information on the recovery process after surgery and how long it will actually take before you can walk again more easily.

In this study, 65 patients (average age, 61 years) were followed for up to 65 weeks after a total hip replacement. The study determined whether people had recovered by measuring how far they could walk in 6 minutes and using what they reported about their problems in doing daily activities. Both measures were taken prior to surgery and at several points during the recovery process. The researchers found that most patients had a rapid recovery during the first 3 to 4 months after surgery, but improvements then continued at a slower rate for up to a year. These findings are important, because, if you do not see rapid improvement in the first 3 to 4 months after surgery or if you stop making progress during the first year, you may benefit from an evaluation to determine if additional exercises or other forms of rehabilitation would help your recovery.

Improvements in strength, balance, and coordination after a hip replacement are needed to help patients return to their daily activities and decrease their risk for falls. Researchers have previously shown that hip strength and muscle weakness persist up to 2 years after surgery. Based on the rapid recovery in the first 3 to 4 months, some patients may stop doing their exercises, which may limit their recovery and place them at risk for falls. On the flip side, some patients may be frustrated if they are not getting better faster.

For more information on rehabilitation following a hip replacement, contact your physical therapist at Reddy Care Physical Therapy who specializes in musculoskeletal disorders. 

Reference:

Teyhen, Deydre S. "Total Hip Replacement: How Long Does It Take to

Recover?." Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy Apr. 2011: 24

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.