Patient Education: Hip Replacement

Caring for and Keeping Your Hip Healthy

Your hip prosthesis is the result of years of research. But like any other device, your new hip’s lifespan depends on how you care for it. In your follow-up visits after surgery, your doctor will follow your progress and answer any questions that you may have about caring for your new hip. It is important that you follow these directions that your doctor advises you to follow. It is also a good idea to keep the telephone numbers of your surgeon and therapist handy so you will have them if you need them. 

You can keep your hip healthy by knowing the right moves and avoiding the wrong ones. Some activities could harm your artificial hip and may be permanently restricted. Below is a list of do’s and don’ts:

DO
1) Do grasp chair arms to help you rise safely to standing position.

2) Do get up from the toilet as directed by your therapist. 

3) Do use a long handled reacher to pull up sheets of blankets or do so as directed by therapist.

4) Do keep a pillow between your legs when you roll onto your “good” side. This is to keep your operated leg from crossing the midline. 

DON’T
1) Do not move your operated hip toward your chest any more than a 90 degree angle.

2) Do not sit on chairs without arms.

3) Do not turn your knee cap inward when sitting, standing, or lying down.

4) Do not cross your operated leg across the midline of your body (in towards your other leg). 

5) Do not lie without pillow between legs.

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