More than 300,000 people in India undergo hip replacement surgery every single year. A total hip replacement or we can also mention it as lateral or anterior, involves the removal of affected and damaged parts of the hip joint. The goal behind this type of joint replacement surgery is simple – to increase the range of motion, reduce pain, improve its function and improve the quality of life of people.
Why might a person need hip replacement surgery?
Well, as per the experts, the most common reason is the wearing down of the joint due to osteoarthritis. In fact, in some instances, this osteoarthritis happens with necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or some sort of injury. A lot of times, runners are also prone to these hip injuries, and this happens more frequently when the right hip flexor exercises are not done in the right way.
It’s being said, so many people with knee surgery end up with hip problems as well. Before doing this sort of joint replacement surgery, orthopedic surgeon also take a patient’s age into consideration. More often, the people undergoing these hip replacements are 50 years of age or older than it.
What to do after a hip replacement surgery?
Once the surgical procedure is done, physical therapy is necessary. A person will now learn to use his new hip and will adapt it. A patient has to get this physical therapy for almost 4 to 6 months, depending on his or her health and fitness condition. While going through this recovery time, therapists and patients will get to know about many different physical therapy avenues too. Many times, one will be recommended to some Yoga and other breathing exercises common with cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
What roles does physical therapy play in the recovery process?
Once a person’s total hip arthroplasty is done, your therapist is going to teach you some exercises. This is where your recovery journey will begin. Most of these exercises involved in post-operation recovery are quite simple and effective. The purpose behind these exercises is simple – to improve the blood flow area in your body, to help you do your everyday living activities easily, and to begin contracting of muscles. Most frequently, you will be first asked to do gluteal contractions, quadriceps contractions, and ankle pumps in your initial physical therapy sessions.
What should you expect from post-operation physical therapy?
Once the hip replacement surgery is done, your therapist is going to work with you every single day in the hospital. And once you are discharged from the hospital, you will be referred to some outpatient therapist to aid you through other stages. This outpatient orthopedic therapist is going to prescribe some exercises, which are especially tailored as per your specific needs. Note that your physical therapy program is going to be completely different from other ones – so better you take advantage of your sessions.
The exercises that are prescribed to you by your therapist are all based on a range of motion and strength of progression. Note that these are going to be something that is similar to someone who has a shoulder replacement surgery lately. One will be taught to do standing exercises like standing hamstring curls and standing side leg lifts.
Hip replacement surgery improves the overall quality of life
No one gets these hip replacement surgeries for no reason, of course. One must be in pain and having serious trouble in doing everyday functioning, and that’s why he is getting this surgical procedure done. And once you get it done by an experienced and the best orthopedic doctor in Chandigarh, you can expect the quality of your life to be substantially better. So, rather than experiencing this unbearable pain, you must consider talking with a professional and dependable orthopedic surgeon to assist you.
