Preoperative Physical Therapy for Right Anterior Total Hip Replacement

Hospital for Special Surgery Rehabilitation offers one-on-one preoperative physical therapy (PT) education sessions to individuals undergoing a hip or knee joint replacement surgery. During this preoperative education session you will spend one-on-one time with a physical therapist to learn and practice your surgeon specific post-surgical activities such as any applicable precautions, exercises, and activities of daily living. In addition to the preoperative PT education session, we recommend that you review this site several times in order to reinforce the information and optimize your preparedness for activity after surgery.

Contact Information

Pre-op Main 6
535 East 70th Street, 6th floor
New York, NY 10021
646.714.6844

HSS Paramus Rehabilitation and Performance
15 E. Midland Avenue, Suite 1A
Paramus, NJ 07652
201.599.8000

HSS Rehabilitation Westchester
1133 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
914.821.9100

Tips for Returning Home After Right Anterior Total Hip Replacement

Below are some general guidelines to assist you as you transition home after surgery. If you have specific questions, please speak to your therapist or call your physician’s office.

Driving

• Please check with your MD regarding instructions on driving.

Hygiene

• You may shower once you are home

Management of swelling

• You may encounter bruising and/or swelling in the operated leg.
• Swelling can be minimized by elevating the right leg when resting in bed.
• Icing may be helpful in managing swelling. Please follow your surgeon's instructions regarding ice application.
• When elevating the leg, the ankle should be above the level of the heart and the knee must be straight:
  
  

Around the house

• Roll up throw rugs and clear any loose wires from phones, computers, TVs, etc from the floor to reduce the risk of tripping and falling.
• Chairs that have arm rests are best to use. Avoid chairs with wheels that may move while you’re trying to sit down or stand up.
• Put nightlights near the bathroom and in hallways to help you walk around safely at night.
• If you have a pet who tends to jump up on you when you come home, it’s a good idea to keep them crated or in a separate room until you can sit down so that they don’t accidentally knock you off balance or get tangled under your feet.

What to eat

• Plan meals ahead of time that are pre-made, heat and serve, or easy to prepare.

What to wear

• Choose loose fitting clothing that is easy to get on and off.
• Wear a pair of slip-on rubber soled shoes for safer ambulation.

Exercise

• Try to walk short distance multiple times a day, increasing the distance/frequency as tolerated.
• Avoid cobblestones/slopes.
• At 2 weeks after surgery, you should be able to walk up to a mile cumulatively in a day.
• You many begin using a stationary bike as soon as tolerated.
• Please check with your MD regarding using the pool after surgery.

Follow-up appointment

• Your first MD follow-up is 4-6 weeks after surgery. Please call your surgeon’s office to make this appointment.

Below is a list of equipment that patients commonly use after surgery during the recovery phase. The list is not all-inclusive, and you may or may not need them all.   If you have specific questions, please speak to your therapist.

• Rolling walker
• Cane

Medical Equipment Order Information

Biodynamic Technologies has been supplying HSS and its patients with medical equipment for many years. If you would like to use Biodynamic Technologies, you can call 1.800.879.2276 to order the medical equipment that you will need after your hospital stay. You then may pick up the equipment at their office located at 431 E 73rd St, New York, NY 10021. Or for your convenience, it may be shipped to your home.

If you prefer, you may also purchase these items from your local surgical supply store or online.

It is recommended that you obtain the equipment prior to your surgery so that is readily available upon your discharge home.

Physical Therapy After Surgery

Your doctor will most likely recommend continued physical therapy (PT) after your discharge from the hospital. There are a few ways to go about that:

Home(care) PT

A physical therapist comes to your home a few times each week to provide your therapy, commonly through a certified home care agency.

In this option, the Case Manager who meets with you after surgery will make your home care arrangements through the agency serving your neighborhood. For more information prior to surgery call 212.606.1271. For issues regarding home PT after you’re discharged, call 212.606.1666.

Outpatient PT

Once you’ve gone home, you will travel a few times a week to a therapy facility for all of your rehabilitation appointments. You will need a prescription from your surgeon to receive outpatient PT.

Our physical therapists at the following locations are specialists in arthritis and joint replacement. Services provided include preoperative and postoperative care, and one-time follow up appointments. Please contact these locations for any questions you may have.