Exercises in the acute phase

Exercises that are performed in the acute phase are light mobilization exercises: Such mobilization exercises can be performed about 10-20 times in a row during the initial period after hip surgery. After a break of approx. 30-60 sec.

the exercise is repeated 3 more times. It can be performed several times a day, should not cause pain and should not be too strenuous (then fewer repetitions).

For example, the leg can be spread out from the supine position.
In order to prevent the leg from being moved across the spine, it is first stretched out downwards for a long time so that you can feel tension on the affected side. The heel points slightly further to the end of the bed than the other heel. From this position the leg is now spread outwards.

The heel (the toes are tightened) is guided outwards over the bedding. The heel always points further outwards than the tips of the toes. The knee is not bent and remains long and loose on the pad.

The movement is only carried out until the connecting line of the two pelvic bones wants to deviate from the horizontal. Then the leg is returned loosely.
The flexion of the hips can also be practiced. To do this, the heel is placed on the pad again, the toes are pulled towards the body, now the heel is pulled towards the buttocks. The hip joint also bends over the flexion of this knee joint.It is important that the movement takes place in a straight line and that the knee does not deviate inwards or outwards.

Exercises during the advanced wound healing phases

In more advanced wound healing phases, functional exercises are becoming increasingly important. Various exercises are available for this purpose: Bridging is another exercise that is suitable for training after hip surgery. In everyday life we are often in a sitting position.

This means that our hips are constantly bent. Our hip extensor muscles become weaker. For a physiologically healthy and joint-gentle posture, it is important to also train the hip extension.

This is done, among other things, by means of bridging: an individual training program should be put together by the therapist for the patient and worked out with him/her to avoid incorrect or imprecise execution. The more advanced the healing process, the more demanding and individual the exercises can be varied. Equipment supported exercises can also be integrated into the training after hip surgery.

You can find more exercises under: Exercises from physiotherapy for the hip, exercises for a hip impingement, hip TEP exercises

Knee bend: The feet are hip-wide apart and the toes point forward. The body weight is more on the heel than on the forefoot. From an upright position, the patient lowers his buttocks far back (initially best above the bed, so that he can let himself fall if the muscles are not yet strong enough).
The back remains straight. It is important that the knees do not fall forward and never point over the tips of the toes. The exercise should be felt in the entire thigh muscles.

At the beginning, the knee-bend exercise can be used well to practice standing up and sitting down after hip surgery. Supporting the arms on the thighs is also allowed at the beginning. Later, the exercise should be performed freely, if possible.

The exercise can be performed 10-15 times with a break of about 60 seconds in 3 sets.

Bridging: The patient lies on a pad in a supine position, with the arms next to the body and the palms of the hands pointing upwards. The heels are upright, the knees bent 90°. Now the patient lifts the buttocks until they form a straight line with the thighs and trunk.
The groin is stretched upwards. The tension should be felt in the buttocks and the back thigh. The position is held briefly, then released again, whereby the buttocks are not completely lowered, if possible, but are stretched directly upwards again. The exercise can be performed with 10-15 repetitions and 60 sec. break in 3-4 sets.