Becoming more active is safe for most people. Three months after a hip replacement, you should face relatively few restrictions on activity.

So do you have the green light to start?

• Talk to your surgeon (who is the expert in your joint replacement) and your family doctor (who knows your general health and activity level).  Ultimately, follow the direction of your surgeon, who will advise you what you can and cannot safely do.

• Take the questionnaire on physical activity readiness provided with permission from the Canadian Society for Exercise and Physiology – click here.  If you’re between the ages of 19-69, the answers will tell you if you should check with your family doctor first before becoming more active.  If you’re 70 or over and aren’t used to being active, or if you’re under 70 and feel that there’s some reason why you should not be doing physical activity (e.g. chest pain, dizziness, medications), you should check with your family doctor.

• If you have a chronic health condition – such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease – ask your family doctor, specialist or physiotherapist if your condition in any way limits your ability to be active.  There is an increasing amount of evidence that activity and exercise has a benefit for many chronic diseases.  Work with your health care team to come up with a physical activity plan that matches your abilities.  Even a few hours a week of moderate activity is good for you.

• After joint replacements, some activities are more advisable than others, and you may have to modify how you do them.  Talk to your surgeon or physiotherapist about some do’s and don’ts, and “Finding Activities That Work For You”.

• Depending on your readiness, consider a fitness appraisal (after you’ve talked to your family doctor).  This is a great way to assess your basic fitness level, so that you can plan the best way to live actively.

For more information, see your “Getting Started Checklist”.

Start low and go slow

When starting or resuming any physical activity – whether or not you’ve had a joint replacement – the best advice for most people is “start low and go slow”.
That makes sense for a few reasons:

• If you’ve been away from any activity for even just a few weeks – let alone months, years, or more – it affects your fitness level.  Think of gradually increasing both the amount of time you’re active and the effort you make while doing it.

• If you experience discomfort in any other joints, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident easing your way into more activity.  Start slowly but surely, and you’ll discover that activity is a key part of treating issues like arthritis and relieving your aches.

• Trying to do too much too soon can lead to injury, aches or discouragement – and those are reasons why people often give up on sports, exercise programs, or even routine physical activities that are part of daily life. 

Keep in mind, your body might need a bit of time to adapt to increased activity.  So starting slow makes sense.  But remember, no matter your age or your condition, you can expect to reap the benefits of being active.

Make it Easy to Say "Yes"

There are big reasons to say “yes” to getting moving – your health and wellbeing.
But you may also use all sorts of reasons to say “no” or “not now”.  Do these strike a chord?
1. I’m worried about wearing out my joint.
2. I can’t get motivated.
3. I don’t have time.
4. I don’t like to “exercise”.
5. I don’t want to do it alone.
6. I’m too tired.
7. I’m afraid of falling.
8. The weather is bad.
9. I can’t afford it.
10. I’m too old for this.

You may think of them as reasons – but they’re actually all barriers that you can overcome.  No question, it can be tough to get started or keep going.  Let’s make it easier.  Click here for these 10 common barriers to avoiding activity, and ways to work around them.

Still have questions?

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Talk to someone who has been there. If you’d like to access the Ortho Connect Phone Program, call the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation at 1-800-461-3639, or click here to complete an application form.

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