How Exercise Helps with Hip Replacements

More people are getting  hip replacements all the time. Some 400,000  will get one this year, and that’s expected to double by 2030.

 As we age, the main reasons tend to be arthritis and general wear and tear. Also, it’s an easier surgery than it was, say, 30 years ago – easier to perform and to recover from.

 How can we lower the chances we’ll need a ceramic or titanium replica in our hip sockets? Well, exercise is key. It helps reduce the likelihood you’ll need such a procedure. And if you do need one, exercise -- before and after -- will help you bounce back.

“If you go into surgery weak and deconditioned, it’s very well established that outcomes are not good,” said Daniel K. White, associate professor, department of physical therapy at University of Delaware and the Arthritis Foundation.

Talk to us about exercise to help your hips. This will probably include strengthening your glutes (the butt muscles). That’s because joints and cartilage wither away (osteoarthritis) when they have to absorb too much load – and glutes absorb the bulk of that load. Simple moves like glute bridges and side-lying abductions are great.

 Also, we’ll discuss mobility exercises like the clamshell, hip circles, and standing hip flexion. Remember, the hips are ball-and-socket joints built for mobility.

And keep your weight down. “Every 10 pounds of weight gain above the waist results in an extra 75 to 100 pounds across the joints,” said Dr. Joanne Halbrecht of the Boulder Institute for Sports Medicine.