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After hip replacement surgery, one of your top priorities is to help your new joint
heal. You’ll start by working with your healthcare provider or physical therapist to
draft a postsurgery exercise plan, which you will need to follow faithfully, according
to Alanda Babbitt, PT, Director of Advanced Therapy at Sharon Hospital.
A typical exercise plan will often include these tips:
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Start slowly, adding more difficult exercises as healing progresses.
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Don’t overdo it, but stay steady and keep on track. Regular exercise increases blood
circulation, decreases pain, strengthens muscles and increases range of motion.
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Focus on heart-healthy, low-impact activities. Examples include walking, swim-
ming, cross-country skiing, golfing and stationary biking. Ask your health care team
whether weightlifting activities are safe for you.
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Avoid high-impact activities—such as tennis, badminton, football, basketball,
racquetball, jumping and jogging—that can injure or dislodge the joint.
Reaching full recovery usually takes three to six months, depending on the type of
surgery, your overall health and how quickly exercise helps your rehabilitation.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Healing your new hip after surgery
WHEN
was the last time you
took a walk without wincing from
the pain in your hip?
If you’re having trouble getting
around or if you’re starting to lose
your independence because of hip
pain, ask your healthcare provider
about hip replacement surgery.
Each year in the U.S., more
than 230,000
people have
surgery to
replace dis-
eased, injured
or worn-out
hips, accord-
ing to the
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Regardless of age, most people
who have hip replacement surgery
experience a dramatic reduction in
pain—and a noticeable improve-
ment in mobility and quality of life.
A joint decision
Whether to have hip replace-
ment surgery is a decision best
made after talking with your
primary care provider, an orthope-
dic surgeon and your family. For a
referral to an orthopedic surgeon,
please call the Health & Wellness
Concierge at Sharon Hospital
at
877.364.4202
.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National
Institutes of Health
Find freedom
from hip pain
Is surgery right for
you?
In general, people are
candidates for an artifi-
cial hip if they:
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Have hip pain or stiff-
ness that limits walk-
ing, bending or other
everyday activities.
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Have
hip pain
that
continues
at night or while at
rest during the day.
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Have tried other
treatments—such as
medications, physi-
cal therapy, or a cane or walker—
without much success.
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Experience bad side effects from
medications.
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Are healthy enough for surgery
and rehabilitation afterward.
The orthopedic team at The Center for Orthopedics
at Sharon Hospital are, from left, Robert Yaghoubian, MD;
Christine Lowell, PA; Dan George, MD; and Evan Rashkoff,
MD.
lifeand health
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Don’t let pain keep you from
the activities you enjoy. To
learn about your options, call
our Advanced Therapy Team
at
860.364.4065
. You can also
join our Total Joint Camp today.
HIP REPLACEMENT