Postoperative exercises
Your exercises are a very important part of your recovery.
Range of Motion
- Hold each exercise for 5 seconds, repeat 10-15 times
- Repeat 2-3 times per day
1. Hip bending
- With the help of a towel/sheet bend your knee and bring your operated leg toward your chest, keeping your other leg flat to the bed
- When you cannot go any further on your own, use your hands/towel to pull your thigh towards your chest until you feel a gentle stretch
- Repeat on both legs
2. Hip abduction
- Tighten thigh muscle and slide the operated leg sideways in bed with the help of a sheet if needed
- Keep your kneecap and toes pointing up towards the ceiling
- Do not lift your leg off the bed
Strengthening Exercises
- Perform slow and controlled movements, no need to hold the position
- Repeat each exercise 10-15 times, 2-3 times per day
3. Bridge
- Lie on your back with your knees bent (about 90 degrees)
- Squeeze your buttocks and lift your buttocks off the bed
4. Squat
- Stand in front of a chair/sink and keep equal weight through both feet
- Keep your toes pointing forwards
- Bend your knees and stick your buttocks out
- Lower your buttocks down slowly and with control, using hand support if needed
- If using a chair, lower all the way down into sitting
- Do not allow your knees to go ahead of your toes
5. Standing hip abduction
- Hold onto a counter for balance
- Move your operated leg out to the side while standing tall
- Keep your hips level and upper body straight
- Do not hike your hip. Try to keep your foot slightly off the floor
- Keep your toes pointing forward
- Alternate legs
6. Marching in standing
- Hold onto a counter for support
- Bend your operated hip and lift your knee up towards your chest
- Keep your back straight and ensure that you are not rocking from side to side
- Alternate legs
- Helpful Tip: perform this exercise in front of a mirror
