If you’re considering hip replacement or you have a replacement operation scheduled in the future, you’re probably wondering what you can do in the days and weeks leading up to your operation to give you the best chance of having a successful surgery and recovery. Most people are aware that physical therapy will be in their future following their operation, but PT in the form of prehabilitation is a great way to prepare your hip for the upcoming surgery and give the area the best chance to make a full recovery after the operation. Below, we explain why we often recommend prehabilitation for prospective hip replacement patients.
Prehabilitation Before Hip Replacement
There is limited research on the complete effects of prehabilitation in hip replacement patients, but there’s a growing sentiment in the medical community that it can help individuals make a fuller and quicker recovery after their replacement. The logic behind it is simple. You want the structures and muscles that support your hip to be as strong as possible prior to your operation because they are going to be called upon to support your artificial hip after the surgery. Why wait until after your surgery to start strengthening these muscles? If you work to help them become stronger prior to the operation, they’ll be better equipped to handle the operation and the work that is to come following surgery.
Prehabilitation is also beneficial from a habit inducing perspective. You know that you’re going to need to regularly participate in physical therapy routines once your operation is complete, so why not start the routine before your operation? This way when it comes time to complete your PT routine, your body is already used to some of the stretches and movements. People who participate in prehabilitation are more likely to complete all their post-op therapy sessions than those who skip prehab.
Finally, studies have also shown that prehabilitation for hip replacement patients has been associated with reduced post-op costs. You may be able to reduce your time in the recovery ward or get back to full hip joint function sooner if you participate in a hip strengthening program prior to your operation.
Hip Replacement Surgery
It may seem silly to strengthen your hip when it’s going to be replaced, but remember that prehab helps to strengthen the supportive muscles, ligaments and soft tissues that will remain in your body, and these are the areas that we want as strong as possible heading into an operation. So if you’ve been told that a hip replacement operation is in your future, or you’re interested in learning about some exercises that you can do to target these hip structures prior to your replacement surgery, reach out to Dr. Botero and his team today for more information.
