Hip Replacement

Causes and Symptoms

Hip joint replacement is a procedure that has improve dramatically over recent years. Modern hip replacement patients can expect a relatively speedy recovery and incredible gains in range of motion and loss of pain. For many, hip replacement is a great way to improve their quality of life and regain activities that they may have believed were impossible for them to enjoy again. With the help of a quality physical therapist after the operation has been successfully completed, hip replacement patients will be able to regain physical function that they had lost and look forward to many years of useful life from their new joint.

 

Benefits of Hip Replacement

While it is commonly associated with elderly patients, hip replacements can actually benefit a wide range of people from all walks of life. One of the most common causes for a hip replacement to be called for is rheumatoid arthritis developing in the joint. This disease will make the joint stiff and sore, and could render it useless if the arthritis becomes severe enough. In addition to that, those who have suffered a traumatic injury to the hip joint, or those who have a bone tumor in the joint area, can use a hip replacement to get their mobility back for the long term.

As with any surgery, less invasive methods of treatment will be considered before the replacement is undertaken. One of those treatments is physical therapy. Depending on the cause of the hip pain, physical therapy may be able to reduce the pain being experienced in the joint and regain some of the motion that has been lost. This is preferable to surgery when possible because there is less risk of complications and the recovery time is much shorter for the patient.

In cases where hip replacement is the only viable option, physical therapy still plays an important role in the process. Patients who undergo hip replacement will meet with a physical therapist soon after their operation to learn how to work with their new hip. These sessions will help the patient become comfortable and confident with the new joint, and learn how to exercise and stretch to achieve the best possible outcome.

Even after the patient has returned home and the surgery has been successful, work with a physical therapist can continue for months or even years. Because a physical therapist is able to observe the progress that a patient is making and continue to evolve the treatment plan to improve overall function and fitness, it is important that the patient stick with PT program until completed. Everything that the physical therapist can offer the patient will be with the goal of getting the best possible strength and flexibility in the new joint so the patient can enjoy a high quality of life.

Hip replacement, as with any other surgery, is a serious operation and requires commitment on the part of the patient to see it through and finish with great results. Whether it is an elderly person who suffers from painful arthritis, or a younger person struck with a severe injury to the hip, a hip replacement procedure and the associated physical therapy can lead to better results that many would ever expect.