Walking and early activity
After surgery there are no restrictions in the way you are allowed to move but you should listen to your body and avoid painful movements or positions. In addition, you or another person should not force your hip in any direction. Your Occupational Therapist may recommend some equipment to help with your daily activities, such as a reacher, sock aid and/or a raised toilet seat.
Walking
You are allowed to put as much weight as you feel comfortable with on your operated leg, we call this Weight Bearing As Tolerated. Your physiotherapist will let you know what walking aid you should be using (walker, 2 canes, 1 cane or walking poles). Note: When using one cane, the cane should be held in the hand opposite to your surgery leg.
When you are at home you may feel you can progress to using less support (e.g. 1 cane instead of 2), make sure that you do not begin to limp. It is better to walk properly with more support.
- Building your strength by doing the exercises given to you in this web resource will help prevent limping
- Practice walking in front of a full length mirror, check that:
- standing up as tall and straight as possible
- shoulders do not sway side to side
- the same amount of weight is on each leg i.e. you are standing straight
- Walking is a good activity after surgery but it is important to increase the amount you walk slowly to avoid increasing pain and swelling. For example, try to walk for 5 minutes. If your pain does not increase, try walking for 6 minutes the next day
