3 Tips For Faster Recovery Following A Hip Replacement

As your body begins to age, your joints can deteriorate. A hip joint that falls into disrepair will often need to be surgically replaced to ensure that you are able to remain active and mobile throughout the rest of your life.

Recovering from a hip replacement can be daunting, but there are some simple things that you can do to help ensure that your recovery goes quickly and smoothly. Here are three tips to keep in mind as you prepare for the recovery of a hip replacement in the future:

1. Prepare your home for recovery.

Before you go in for surgery, it's important that you take the time to ensure your home is prepared for your recovery. Moving around your home after surgery can be difficult, and you will want to be sure that there are no obstacles preventing you from safely moving from one room to another.

Eliminate any area rugs that could cause you to slip, clear a pathway for crutches or a walker to maneuver easily around furniture, and equip your bathroom with a raised toilet seat and shower chair. These preparations will help facilitate your recovery.

2. Visit a physical therapist before surgery.

Most people know that intense physical therapy will be required to help heal a hip replacement following surgery, but taking the time to visit with a physical therapist prior to your procedure could help you speed the recovery process.

The physical therapist will be able to help you strengthen and stabilize your supporting muscles so that you are able to offset the discomfort of a hip replacement. Visiting your physical therapist before surgery also allows him or her to take note of your existing range of motion, and this information can be used to create a more effective rehabilitation program following your surgery.

3. Lose a little weight.

As you prepare for your hip replacement, you should make an effort to shed excess weight. Carrying around extra weight as you attempt to heal from your hip replacement could place unnecessary stress on the replaced joint.

This added stress could slow the healing process, so losing weight can be a great way to prepare for a faster recovery. Ask your doctor for recommendations when it comes to the ideal pre-surgery weight for your height and frame.

Being prepared for your hip replacement will ensure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible. Eliminating obstacles from your home, visiting a physical therapist prior to your orthopedic surgery, and losing weight before having your hip replaced are all simple things that you can do to speed the recovery process in the future.


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