DAA Hip Replacement Rehab

PHASE 1: Early recovery 

  • Ice Pack and elevation to decrease pain and inflammation 
  • Work in increasing extension and flexion ROM 
  • Work on normalizing gait, use of assistive devices as instructed 
  • Demonstration of good neuromuscular control 
  • Regain quadriceps control and minimize quad lag 
  • Regular applications of Arnica to the incision upon dressing removal for 2 weeks 

Week 0-2: ROM 

•Hip and knee ROM exercises 

  • Strengthening 
  • Abdominal bracing 
  • Calf pumps with resistance 
  • Heel slides 
  • Straight leg raises 
  • Seated terminal knee extensions 
  • Pelvic bridges 
  • Seated rectus femoris hip flexion 
  • Bent over hip extensions (straight leg)
  • Standing active ham curls 

Week 3-6: 

  • Cardiovascular fitness
    • Stationary upright bicycle (high seat, low resistance)
    • Begin elliptical (short stride, low resistance) 
  • ROM
    • Knee and hip ROM exercises 
  • Strengthening
    • Modified crunches (one bent, one knee straight)
    • Forward planks
    • Single leg half pelvic bridge
    • Standing hip 
  • • Standing hip abduction
    • Bent over hip extensions
    • Isometrics (quads, hams, adductors, abductors)
    • Leg press (up to 1⁄4 body weight) 
  • Proprioception
    • Weight transfers (lateral) 

PHASE 2: Progressive recovery: 

  • Continue to unilaterally increase strength of involved side until strength equals uninvolved side 
  • Progress gait training to independent ambulation without assistive device 
  • Improving and master diverse functional activities 
  • Return to activities and sport as discussed with Dr Watson

Week 7-9: 

Cardiovascular fitness 

  • Stationary bicycle (high seat, low resistance)
  • Elliptical (short stride, low resistance) 

ROM 

  • Continue with knee and hip ROM exercises if goals not met 

Strengthening 

  • Modified crunches (one knee bent, one knee straight) 
  • Forward planks 
  • Lateral planks 
  • Straight leg raises 
  • Wall squats 
  • Leg press (up to 1⁄2 body weight) 
  • Static lunges 
  • Lateral step ups 
  • Hamstring curls 

Week 10-12: 

Cardiovascular fitness 

  • Stationary bicycle 
  • Arc trainer or elliptical 

Strengthening 

  • Prone hip extensions 
  • Side lying hip abduction 
  • Single leg pelvic bridge 
  • Leg press (up to 1⁄2 body weight) 
  • Static lunges 
  • Forward step ups 
  • Lateral step ups 
  • Knee extensions 
  • Hamstring curls 

 

PHASE 3: Advanced recovery 

  • Strength of involved side approximately equal to uninvolved side 
  • Normalized gait pattern 
  • Mastery of sport-specific activities (if return to sport is indicated) 

After week 12 

  • Continue as above, increasing the difficulty of the exercises and return to full activities as discussed with your surgeon. Bilateral strengthening if strength of involved side approximately equal to uninvolved side. 
  • Ice Pack and elevation to decrease pain and inflammation 
  • Work in increasing extension and flexion ROM 
  • Work on normalizing gait, use of assistive devices as instructed 
  • Demonstration of good neuromuscular control 
  • Regain quadriceps control and minimize quad lag 
  • Regular applications of Arnica to the incision upon dressing removal for 2 weeks 

Week 0-2: ROM 

• Hip and knee ROM exercises 

Strengthening 

  • Abdominal bracing 
  • Calf pumps with resistance 
  • Heel slides 
  • Straight leg raises 
  • Seated terminal knee extensions 
  • Pelvic bridges 
  • Seated rectus femoris hip flexion 
  • Bent over hip extensions (straight leg)
  • Standing active ham curls 

Week 3-6: 

Cardiovascular fitness
• Stationary upright bicycle (high seat, low resistance)
• Begin elliptical (short stride, low resistance) 

ROM
• Knee and hip ROM exercises 

Week 7-9: 

Cardiovascular fitness 

  • Stationary bicycle (high seat, low 

resistance)

  • Elliptical (short stride, low resistance) 

ROM 

  • Continue with knee and hip ROM 

exercises if goals not met 

Strengthening 

  • Modified crunches (one knee bent, one knee straight) 
  • Forward planks 
  • Lateral planks 
  • Straight leg raises 
  • Wall squats 
  • Leg press (up to 1⁄2 body weight) 
  • Static lunges (anterior approach) 
  • Lateral step ups 
  • Hamstring curls 

Proprioception
• Single leg stance (1⁄4 squat position) 

Week 10-12: 

Cardiovascular fitness 

  • Stationary bicycle 
  • Arc trainer or elliptical 

Strengthening 

  • Prone hip extensions 
  • Side lying hip abduction 
  • Single leg pelvic bridge 
  • Leg press (up to 1⁄2 body weight) 
  • Static lunges 
  • Forward step ups 
  • Lateral step ups 
  • Knee extensions 
  • Hamstring curls 

Proprioception 

• Balance board (lateral, two feet, 1⁄4 squat position 

PHASE 3: Advanced recovery 

  • Strength of involved side approximately equal to uninvolved side 
  • Normalized gait pattern 
  • Mastery of sport-specific activities (if return to sport is indicated) 

After week 12 

Continue as above, increasing the difficulty of the exercises and return to full activities as discussed with your surgeon. Bilateral strengthening if strength of involved side approximately equal to uninvolved side.