Following your hip surgery, you will participate in both occupational therapy and physical therapy programs before you even leave the hospital.

You will be seen by an occupational therapist who will instruct you how to safely perform activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and bed mobility.

The occupational therapist will inform you about precautions you should take for the first six to eight weeks following hip surgery. These precautions are designed to protect your new hip and speed recovery.

During this recovery period, you will need to use a long-handled devices for activities of daily living or have a friend or family member act as your assistant.

Download the Occupational Therapy following Total Hip Replacement handout (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Precautions After Hip Surgery

It may be necessary for you to follow some of the limitations listed below while you are recovering from hip surgery.

Your specific precautions will be determined by your physician based on your individual situation and the surgical approach your doctor took.

Posterior Approach to Hip Surgery

• While sitting, do not bend forward or lift your knee higher than your operated hip. Maintain a 90-degree angle while taking your pants, shoes, and socks on and off. Use your reacher devices to reach your feet for self-care tasks. For safety, avoid high-heeled shoes or slip-on slippers.
• Do not cross your legs or allow your legs to turn inward. Sleep on your back with a pillow between your legs. If you must sleep on your side, sleep on the operated side with a pillow between your legs.
• Do not twist while standing or lying down.
• Observe your weight-bearing precautions during walking. Consider using an apron with pockets or a utility cart to carry items at home.
• You are not permitted to sit in a tub to take a bath. You may use a tub transfer bench to take a shower or sponge bath at the sink.
• Avoid sitting on any low toilet seat, chair, or sofa that will not allow you to maintain a 90-degree or open angle while sitting. A 3-in-1 commode/bedside commode may be used over your toilet.
• Avoid bending forward to pick up items. Use your reacher or ask for assistance.

Download the Occupational Therapy Posterior Approach Hip Precautions handout (PDF, 442 KB)

Anterior Approach to Hip Surgery

• Do not extend your leg behind you when dressing, bathing, and backing up to the toilet.
• Do not cross the midline of your body with the operated leg while putting on socks or shoes.
• Do not rotate your operated leg outward.

Download the Occupational Therapy Anterior Approach Hip Precautions handout (PDF, 217 KB)

Devices

We understand that not everyone has an assistant to help them with everyday activities. To remain independent with your self care, you may need to use one of the following devices:

• Reacher to dress and pick things up from the floor
• Sock aid to put on socks
• Long-handled sponge to wash your legs and feet
• Leg lifter to move the operated leg in and out of bed or a car

If you have difficulty holding onto the handle of the reacher, you may use the dressing stick instead. Elastic shoelaces may be used to modify tied shoes into slip-on shoes.

Please purchase the reacher, sock aid, leg lifter, and long-handled sponge before admission and bring them with you to the hospital. These items can be purchased from a medical supply store or ordered from an ADL catalogue. Insurance may not cover these smaller items.

During your stay, the occupational therapist will teach you how to use the devices. If you have any questions, call the Duke Occupational Therapy Office at 919-681-2030 to speak with an occupational therapist.

Do not purchase a walker or commode before coming to the hospital -- these items will be obtained for you.

Duke Orthopaedics offers occupational therapy programs at locations throughout North Carolina, including Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill.