Friday Q&A: Physical Therapy for Hip Replacements

Q: It is good to know that even people who’ve had hip surgeries can still do yoga, although it may be limited on some poses. Can yoga be a form or alternative for physical therapy post-hip surgery as well?

A: The short answer is no. Typically post operative physical therapy takes place in the home where the client is taught how to do basic activities of daily living while adhering to specific hip precautions like getting in and out of bed, up and down from the toilet, in and out of the shower, etc. The strict post op precautions (remember anterior hip replacement precautions are different than posterior lateral hip precautions) vary by surgeon specifics. After their first post op surgeon visit, most people are told they can start limited exercise with specifications generally on what they can and can't do. Some people will have a pronounced limp after hip surgery and may need physical therapy to address their surgical residual difficulties. Some people, I am sorry to say, may even still have pain after a hip replacement.

Typically after three months of an uncomplicated recovery, people are told they can “do anything.” So going to a yoga class earlier than that is a bit overly optimistic. Everyone wants to be a fast healer, but there are certain surgical post op norms. Some people may be quicker and others slower, but you don't want to push your joint replacement prematurely because you don't want to have a revision. That said, there is no reason why having private one-on-one yoga therapy sessions with an experienced yoga teacher can't occur after your first post op orthopedic visit as long as your doctor approves. As to what your particular precautions are, you must ask your doctor before starting any type of yoga class. Lastly, if you have done yoga for years and are experienced, you should be able to modify poses even in a general class. But if you are new to yoga, you really need to start slowly with a good teacher who has experience with hip replacements. If no teachers are available in your area, then you must learn to “listen” to your hip and respect its limitations and not push your range of motion. Good luck!

—Shari