Pre-Surgery Excercises

[HelenE]

My wife Helen is going to have single or bilateral hip replacement next summer. We have been told that strengthening herself prior to surgery is very important, specifically the upper body for and legs/hips. We are wondering what types of excersises have been helpful to anyone else. Thanks.

 

[Jamie]

Welcome to both you and your wife! We're glad you decided to join us here on the BoneSmart forum.

You are really planning ahead for the surgery next summer, which is wonderful. You are correct that strengthening exercises will help in recovery. Since people vary so much in their ability to move without pain and other health issues, I recommend that you see if your wife's surgeon will recommend a physical therapist. She will likely be having some outpatient therapy after surgery and it would be wonderful to meet with that person BEFORE surgery for an evaluation. At that time, the therapist can recommend specific exercises that suit your wife. If the doctor will write an order for a few sessions, your insurance should cover all or part of the cost.

If this is not possible, I recommend any exercises she could do in the water. Water relieves a lot of the joint stress and pain that would result if you did the same movements on land.

Upper arm strength is important also to more easily use the walker, crutches or cane that will be required for a short period of time in recovery. Arm curls using small weights or soup cans can help with this.

When she does the exercises, do 3 sets with 5-25 reps each. You need a 1 minute rest between the sets. Exercise different muscles each day because they need a day of rest to rebuild stronger once they are pushed during the exercise itself. As the exercises become easier, gradually increase the weight used, but stay within the 3 sets, 5-25 reps each rule. You don't want her to get "muscle bound"!! :hehe:

 

[HelenE]

Jamie, thanks for the quick reply. We are about to start looking for the right surgeon. If anyone in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill (NC) has any experience and/or reccomendations, we would be pleased to hear what you have to say.

 

[Jamie]

Here is a link to a (broken link removed: https://bonesmart.org/clinic_lookup.php that can get you started. It's a good idea to interview a couple to be sure you are comfortable with the doctor and what he or she plans to do.

Also, here is another link with some information about meeting with a prospective surgeon....info and questions to ask:

https://bonesmart.org/hip/how-to-choose-a-hip-or-knee-replacement-surgeon-and-prosthesis/

 

[TBONE]

Hi Helen--I am a bilat also and, for me, pre-surgery exercise was the single most important thing that I did to assist in my recovery.
I don't know your level of fitness or of fitness knowledge, or whether you currently belong to a gym. I had been a fitness junkie, but had not done anything for several years because of my limitations. Six weeks prior to surgery, I got a prescription for Celebrex, which allowed me to use the local gym without too much pain. Not sure if you will need a prescription, and you also have much more time to get in better shape than I had.
I did a relatively simple, straightforward weightlifting regimen, using light weight and all using machines, including leg press, leg extensions, leg curls, bench press, lat pull downs, shoulder press, bicep curls, tricep extensions, and sit-ups. Leg raises, without weight also were helpful and you will certainly appreciate the time you put in afterward.
I think the best exercises for me were the leg extensions and leg curls because they allowed me to feel my muscles, to move my legs post-surgery, and to recognize when and how I was improving. Also, you will be using your arms more initially, so the tricep strengthening exercises will also help a great deal.
If you can join a local gym, then this will help. If not, then swimming will definitely help a great deal as it is very low impact and works everything. I am swimming regularly now to assist in my recovery.
Congratulations on your decision. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

 

[TBONE]

As for surgeons, I was very happy with mine and I traveled to see him, but he is far from you and I am sure there are competent doctors closer. There is a Dr. Gross in Columbia SC who specializes in resurfacing, but also does THR. I know that is a bit of a distance, however. I researched him pretty thoroughly pre-surgery and was impressed. Because you are a bilat, or a potential bilat, I think you would be well served to start your search early. If you choose bilat surgery, make sure your surgeon does them with some regularity. I am a proponent of simultaneous bilat surgery for those who need both. It saves time and 2 procedures and, believe it or not, it's just not very different than single hip replacement.

 

[Josephine]

Well, Helen's husband - welcome to BoneSmart and great you are thinking ahead like this. You've already got some great advice so I won't comment further.

Have you read the stuff in Recurring Hip Information, in the Information Centre (link at top of page). There is also a thread in the main part called How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis. You should read that too.

 

[V4kerker]

HelenE I agree with TBONE on the excercises.I'M bilateral AVN of the hips and I'm doing all the leg excercises and upper body workouts that I can before my RTHR and core decompression for the left hip on 10/12/09.I don't know your wifes fitness level,degree of hip pain or age but any exercises she can do to get in shape will most likely help post-op recovery.
It's funny when I exercise my hips don't hurt probably because of increased blood flow,but the next day my right one can be painful sometimes.

TBONE are you able to do any leg workouts with weights yet?

 

[TBONE]

V4--absolutely! I have no restrictions. But, I don't do free weight squats and I keep my weight pretty light. I do leg presses, leg extensions, leg curls, toe raises, all using weight machines at a local gym. Recently, I started doing stiff-leg deadlifts, but this is mostly with just a bar and mostly for stretching. It definitely works, but proper form is a bit difficult and I can't go very low yet and keep in form as I am just too inflexible still.