Do's and Don'ts
Your new hip is designed to eliminate pain and increase function. There are
certain movements that place undue stress on your new hip. For your safety,
these should be avoided. This is especially true during the first few months
after your surgery.
DO NOT move your operated hip toward your chest (flexion) any more
than a right angle. This is 90 degrees.
DO NOT sit on chairs without arms.
DO grasp chair arms to help you rise safely to standing position.
Place extra pillow(s) or cushion(s) in your chair so that you do not bend your
hip more than 90 degrees.
DO NOT get up like this. Keep your involved leg in front while getting
up.
DO use a chair with arms. Place your operated leg in front and your
uninvolved leg well under.
DO NOT sit low on toilet or chair.
DO get up from toilet as directed by your therapist. Use the elevated
toilet seat if we have given you one.
DO NOT pull blankets up like this.
DO use a long-handled reacher to pull up sheets or blankets or do as
directed by therapist.
DO NOT bend way over.
DO NOT turn your knee cap inward when sitting, standing, or lying
down.
DO NOT try to put on your own shoes or stockings in the usual way. By
doing this improperly you could bend or cross your operated leg too far.
DO these activities as directed by your therapist.
DO NOT cross your operated leg across the midline of your body (in
toward your other leg).
DO NOT lie without pillow between legs.
DO keep a pillow between your legs when you roll onto your "good"
side. This is to keep your operated leg from crossing the midline.
