Get moving safely Following Hip Surgery

Incorporating more physical activity into your everyday routine, exercising, taking up some form of recreation on a casual basis, and competitive sports are all examples of being active.  But there’s a big difference between them. The difference can come in the frequency and intensity of the activity, and in the “load” on your joint.

Consider the stress of three types of activities:
• Walking at a “normal” speed of 5 km per hour puts a load up to 4.2 times your body weight on your hip and knee.
• Jogging at 9 km per hour puts up to 9 times your body weight on your hip and knee.
• On the lower end, when you use a stationary bike with medium resistance, the load on the hip and knee is only 1.2 times your body weight.

What are the implications after a hip replacement? Here are some general guidelines:
• Activities that involve jumping, running or hopping on land – what are called high-impact activities – usually aren’t recommended for people who’ve had hip replacements.
• In contrast, low-load activities – e.g. walking, swimming, aqua-fit, cycling, and T'ai chi – can be done safely and often.
• Higher-load recreational activities and competitive sports – e.g. skiing, doubles tennis, and hiking – can also be done, but less frequently.
• Sports that have a potential for contact, which include most team sports (e.g. hockey, basketball, soccer) are not permitted.
• You’re usually allowed to return to activities and sports that require a high level of technical ability, such as skiing, skating, rollerblading and Pilates – that is, if you’re experienced.  If not, you probably shouldn’t take up a new technically demanding activity – the joint loads can simply be too high, and you might not have the muscle coordination and control to do it safely.

Whenever you’re unsure, ask your surgeon about what you can and can’t do. 
For some more detailed guidelines, see "Guidelines for Returning to Activities".

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