Hip Replacement - working out afterwards

FITNESS - Malady Monday

Living and Exercising after Total Hip Replacement

Amongst my clients one has had both knees replaced, another has had a hip replacement and right now another is thinking about a hip replacement. So let's get it out up front, I'm not qualified as a Physiotherapist nor as a Rehab Specialist. However I have clients who need a lot of help after finishing rehab. What to say ?

"My hip really hurts some nights, stops me sleeping and it still hurts when I get into the office."

"Sitting for hours at meetings is the worst, my hip hurts like stink for hours afterwards."

Working out with a client like this needs a lot of care. That hip needs specialist medical attention. All I can say is "buyer beware." Hip replacements are not all the same. The hips being implanted are high tech devices and sometimes high tech devices go wrong - maybe even fail altogether. Read this New York Times article.

For what it's worth my thoughts:

• workout as hard as the hip allows before going for the hip replacement because strength and flexibility before will be of great benefit after the procedure.
• during the first few days and weeks after your procedure do these rehab exercises religiously.
• as soon as you can increase the intensity. Vanderbilt has good detailed rehab instructions.
• all of this might still not be enough ! The University of Louisville has been gathering evidence that current rehab strategies are not sufficient for complete recovery.
• Medical researchers in Denmark published their views April 2008 in The Journal of Applied Physiology that resistance training was essential to both build muscle size and muscle strength post-operation.