What is a Total Hip Replacement?
A total hip replacement is a procedure performed in order to relieve pain and improve function in the hip joint. It is recommended for patients who are suffering from hip pain – often caused by arthritis – that is interfering with normal day-to-day activities. The surgery, performed by an orthopedic surgeon, involves the removal of damaged portions of the hip joint, which are then replaced with new, artificial components designed to mimic the function of your hip’s ball and socket joint. A total hip replacement is only considered if other conservative treatment methods fail to provide relief from your symptoms. Rehab after hip replacement surgery is standard protocol for proper post-surgical rehabilitation. In addition, more and more patients are also seeking pre-surgical rehabilitation (known as “prehab”) in order to increase the likelihood of good surgical outcomes and, in some cases, faster recovery following surgery. Our team is experienced in providing personalized care for patients both before and after total hip replacement.
WHY IS A HIP REPLACEMENT PERFORMED?
The goal of a total hip replacement is to improve the function of a patient’s hip joint and to alleviate hip pain. The surgery is only considered if other non-surgical treatment options have failed to provide an improvement in symptoms. In most cases, a total hip replacement is performed on patients who suffer from one of the following conditions:
- Osteoarthritis of the hip
- Post-traumatic hip arthritis
- Osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis of the hip
The proper rehabilitation of your hip joint is a crucial component of the success of your hip replacement surgery, which almost always involves post-surgical PT and, in many cases, may involve pre-surgical rehab as well. Your orthopedic surgeon will discuss the best treatment protocol for your needs. Our team of practitioners has extensive experience in coordinating your care in conjunction with your surgical team in order to ensure the best possible outcomes.
When facing a total hip replacement, please keep in mind that not all clinics are created equal. It is important that you spend time finding a qualified team that specializes in providing post-surgical total hip replacement rehab. At our offices we provide our post-surgery patients with personalized recovery plans that address your lifestyle needs and help get you back to the activities you love following surgery.
