Recovery after hip surgery

Currently, 85% of the population suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system. A serious consequence is the loss of movement, and hence the impossibility of complete self-service. Endoprosthetics is performed only if there is no other way to restore damage. Rehabilitation after hip surgery is a long and very laborious process.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disease that is based on degenerative and dystrophic changes in the entire joint. There is a primary damage to the cartilage, followed by inflammatory processes in this area. Among the clinical symptoms, special attention is paid to pain, morning stiffness, and a decrease in the volume of movements performed in the affected limbs.

Osteoarthritis affects many areas, however, the first place in the severity of disorders of the musculoskeletal system is occupied by the hip joint. An active pathological process can be either unilateral or bilateral.

The disease proceeds in three stages, successively replacing each other. First, the joint loses its ability to fully withstand the previously habitual load, which is accompanied by inflammatory processes and soreness. The response is the marginal growth of bones and cartilage. With severe joint deformity, the axis of the limb changes. There is a pathological mobility of the joint and a sharp restriction of natural movements.

Osteoarthritis is a multifactorial disease. The main causes are: trauma, dysplasia and inflammation. The predisposition to the occurrence of this problem is observed in persons:

• overweight;
• with endocrine disorders;
• with metabolic disorders;
• with a deficiency of minerals and trace elements;
• with congenital or acquired diseases of the skeletal system;
• with neurodystrophic disorders of the spinal cord.

Prevention of complications

In outpatient rehabilitation after hip surgery, the main task is to prevent the development of complications and reduce pain.

Basic Rules:

1. Special position of the operated leg. The first week after endoprosthetics, you need to sleep on your back. Between the legs it is necessary to create a physiological gap by placing a wedge-shaped pillow or roller. It is forbidden to lie on the affected side. On the operated side, the leg was bent at the knee joint at a right angle. During the first week, it is necessary to create complete rest in the pelvic area.
2. Wound dressing. The first manipulation is carried out on the second day after surgery. Bandages are changed every 2-3 days. If non-absorbable threads were applied to the wound, then the sutures are removed on the 10-14th day at the discretion of the surgeon.
3. Light diet. Special meals include lightly salted meat broths, liquid cereals, mashed vegetable purees, fermented milk products, unsweetened tea or jelly. With the normalization of the general condition, after a few days, you can return to the already familiar diet.
4. Antithrombotic prophylaxis. The postoperative physiological process is an increase in thrombus formation. This is done to speed up the healing of the injury. To eliminate the risk of thrombosis, it is worth bandaging the lower extremities with elastic bandages, taking anticoagulants in tablet form and doing gymnastics.

Fundamentals of rehabilitation measures

To answer the question: how long does rehabilitation last after hip surgery, it is worth, first of all, taking into account the individual properties of the body. The younger the patient, the more actively the processes of tissue regeneration will proceed. Rehabilitation activities are divided into two periods: inpatient and outpatient. On each of them, it is necessary to strictly adhere to medical recommendations, this will help to achieve a stable positive effect.

On average, after going through the full stage of active rehabilitation measures, recovery after hip joint surgery occurs in 3.5 months. With a more complex course of the disease, the period may increase to a year.

Stages of rehabilitation

First stage. On the first day after the operation, the patient is prescribed a set of exercises aimed at improving blood circulation in the lower extremities. The main goal is the prevention of thrombosis.

Sequencing:

• alternating tension of the quadricips on the right and left thigh;
• bending the leg at the knee joint at a right angle;
• rotation of the foot: first clockwise, then counterclockwise;
• vertical movements in the ankle joint;
• raising a straight leg 10-15 cm from a horizontal surface from a prone position;
• abduction to the side of the straight leg by 30o.

Gymnastics is performed not only with a damaged, but also with a healthy leg. A set of exercises after hip surgery is repeated 3 times a day in a sitting or lying position.

First stage. On the second - fourth day after the operation, the following actions are added to the already performed set of exercises:

1. The starting position is vertical, resting on a chair or table. It is necessary to raise the leg in front of you, bent at the knee joint, as high as possible. Repeat the exercise five times on each side.
2. From the starting position, abduct the straight leg back.

Recovery activities after hip surgery are carried out primarily to restore the patient's self-care skills.

During sleep, it is necessary to pinch a pillow between the knees to minimize the risk of dislocation of the hip joint. Do not lie down on the operated side. The knees should be extended, even if it is a little painful.

Second stage . Throughout the entire period (5-21 days after the operation), it is necessary to continue to perform the already trained set of exercises. At the end of the first week, you should start taking gentle walks up the stairs. When descending, a step is taken first with a healthy leg, and then with a sick one; when lifting - vice versa. When walking, use a cane.

To move correctly with crutches, you must follow the correct sequence of actions:

1. The movement always starts with a healthy leg.
2. First, there is a support on a crutch, and then a healthy limb is transferred to the stage.
3. When pushing off the floor with crutches, the weight of the body is transferred to the uninjured side.
4. The operated limb is transferred to the step together with crutches.
5. When descending, all of the above actions are repeated in reverse order.

Third stage . The active training phase lasts up to two months. The patient is shown frequent walks, gradually increasing the time to two hours a day. It is worth buying an elastic band. It will create resistance during exercise, increasing the load. One end of the tape is tied to a sore leg, and the other is fixed to a fixed, stable object. The exercise therapy doctor prescribes a workout on an exercise bike and stepping onto a special step platform. Hiking increases to half an hour 3 times a day.

Working on an exercise bike helps to strengthen all muscle groups located near the hip joint. The light mode is set, the training is carried out at low speed. When adjusting the seat height, you should pay attention to the fact that when the knee is fully extended, the foot should lightly touch the pedals of the exercise bike.

Fourth stage . The pain has already stopped, the mobility in the joint has fully recovered, but this does not mean that it is time to finish rehabilitation measures. The muscles have not yet grown stronger, so the risk of re-injury is very high. Strengthening exercises should be done all your life to prevent a decrease in tone.

It is recommended to undergo a course of treatment in a specialized health center in the late stage of rehabilitation after hip surgery. The course of events is compiled by the doctor, focusing on the overall clinical picture. Therapeutic massage is shown. A chiropractor draws up an individual rehabilitation program for the muscles and ligaments to relieve residual pain symptoms, improve blood circulation and strengthen the body's supporting system. Physiotherapy using electric current, ultrasound, laser and temperature. To speed up metabolic processes, mud therapy and a variety of hydrotherapy are prescribed.

Driving a car is allowed 2 months after the start of rehabilitation measures. For the rest of your life, it is forbidden to sit at home on a low surface (low chairs, armchairs), lift heavy objects from the floor.

Properly performed postoperative rehabilitation of the hip joint allows a person not only to regain the skills of independent movement, but also to engage in physical education. Endoprosthetics does not always have positive results, there is always a risk of complications or negative aspects. Each stage of rehabilitation is important, so the exercise should be treated with all responsibility.

Rehabilitation after hip surgery - video