Total Hip Training

Total hip training refers to the complete treatment of an injured hip, with the dual purpose of healing the original injury in addition to the prevention of a new one. Total hip training can be used once a patient has undergone either hip replacement or repair.

Strength

• An important part of total hip training or physical therapy is increasing muscle strength. Exercises such as these start out small, such as bending over and standing back up, and increase in difficulty as the patient is able to manage them. The goal is usually rehabilitation of the patient to the level of functioning that he or she enjoyed before the injury.

Range of Motion

• Increasing range of motion, or flexibility, is another essential part of total hip training. In order to stretch out ligaments and prevent tears, the patient can bend from side to side, or perform exercises lying down, such as tiny rotating foot circles.

Prevention

• Often, total hip training is necessitated by an injury, such as a fall, that causes a broken hip or torn ligaments. Part of the training helps the patient learn safety techniques, such as use of handrails or assistive devices, in order to prevent another accident.