What Exercises Should You Avoid After Hip Replacement?
- Tom Morgan, Chartered Physiotherapist
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Exercise is an essential part of hip replacement recovery, so the goal is not to create a long list of movements you can never do again.
The more useful question is which exercises or positions are inappropriate for your current stage, your surgical approach and any precautions given by your own team.
Avoid breaking your specific hip precautions
Precautions vary. If your surgical team has told you to avoid a particular combination of hip positions, those instructions take priority over generic online programmes.
Do not force deep range early
Deep squats, low seating and large hip flexion ranges may be inappropriate early on, particularly where flexion precautions apply. Range can be reintroduced progressively once restrictions are relaxed.
Avoid uncontrolled twisting
Twisting the body while the foot remains planted can place the hip into a combined rotational position. In early recovery, turn with small steps rather than forcing the hip through a sudden twist.
Avoid high-impact sport too soon
Running, jumping and high-impact pivoting sport should not be early rehabilitation goals. The guide delays high-impact activity until an individual has rebuilt strength and been specifically assessed or cleared.
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Avoid rushing gym loads
Leg press, squats, hip thrusts and Romanian deadlifts can all have a place later in recovery, but heavy resistance should not be introduced before technique, healing and strength are ready.
Avoid exercises that reinforce a limp
If an exercise causes you to lean heavily through the trunk or shift away from the operated leg, reduce the difficulty. Good movement quality is more useful than forcing a harder version.
Do not abandon walking aids prematurely
A walking aid can protect movement quality while the hip muscles recover. Removing it too early may lead you to practise hundreds of steps with an avoidable limp.
What exercises are usually encouraged?
Depending on stage and precautions, useful exercises can include gluteal activation, sit-to-stands, heel raises, hip abduction, bridges, step-ups, squats, band work, cycling and later progressive resistance training.
Long-term exercise is encouraged
By the later stages, the vast majority of patients can return to a broad range of normal activities. Most surgeons encourage staying active, while repeated very high-impact loading may still warrant individual discussion.
When should you seek further advice?
Recovery is rarely a perfectly straight line, but new or rapidly worsening symptoms should not simply be pushed through. Contact your surgical team, GP or physiotherapist if pain, swelling, movement or function is moving in the wrong direction rather than gradually improving. Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as sudden breathlessness or chest pain, marked one-sided calf swelling, a hot increasingly red joint with fever, sudden loss of function, or other symptoms your surgical team has told you require urgent review.
Want the full hip replacement recovery plan?
This article provides general information and does not replace advice from your own surgeon, physiotherapist or medical team. Recovery varies between individuals and any specific restrictions or weight-bearing instructions from your surgical team should take priority.
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