Exercises After Hip Replacement: How Rehabilitation Progresses
Updated: Sep 23
Strengthening should move beyond the very early bed and chair exercises once they are no longer challenging and your surgical guidance allows it. Hip replacement recovery eventually needs progressive resistance for the hips, thighs and calves as well as functional tasks such as sit-to-stand, steps and walking.
Complete rehabilitation guide: £24.99. If you want the full stage-by-stage plan rather than one answer in isolation, the Hip Replacement Recovery & Rehabilitation Guide brings the exercises, progression, common problems and key milestones together in one place. Immediate digital access.
For this stage of hip replacement recovery, the most useful priorities are usually:
comfortable, regular movement rather than long periods of complete rest
a smooth walking pattern before simply adding more distance
progressive hip and leg strength for stairs, transfers and everyday tasks
pacing activity so pain and swelling settle again before the next session
Progress is best judged by function, movement quality and your response over the following 24 hours. A small increase in walking or exercise that settles quickly is usually more useful than a large jump that leaves you limping, exhausted or markedly more painful the next day.
Increase resistance or difficulty gradually while keeping technique controlled. Machines, bands, weights and body-weight exercises can all be useful; the best choice is the one that targets the required muscles and can be progressed without breaking the precautions for your stage.
increasing walking distance while the limp is getting worse
treating the first hospital exercise sheet as the whole rehabilitation programme
stopping strengthening as soon as basic daily activities become possible
ignoring approach-specific precautions or advice from the surgical team
When should you get extra help?
Seek urgent medical advice for symptoms such as sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, marked new calf swelling, a rapidly worsening wound, fever with increasing redness, or a sudden major loss of function. For less urgent problems, persistent deterioration rather than gradual improvement is a good reason to contact your surgical or physiotherapy team.
If you need advice tailored to you, book a physiotherapy assessment.
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