Therapy Rehabilitation Tips for a Kid With Hip Surgery

Hip surgery often requires a long recovery and rehabilitation period. Dave Pariser, an assistant professor of physical therapy at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, researches the effects of fitness level prior to hip surgery and has found that patients recover quicker and do better in their rehabilitation programs when they are in good physical shape prior to surgery. Children generally recover more quickly from hip surgery than adults and elderly people because their bodies are usually in better shape, and they get more exercise.

Positions

• Children who have had hip surgery should avoid certain positions. How long to avoid these positions depends on the type of surgery performed. Some hip surgeries are minimally invasive and the rehabilitation process goes quicker than it does with a total hip replacement. Your child's doctor and/or physical therapist will give you specific instructions.

  If the surgeon took a posterior approach, meaning from the back, your child should avoid bending the hip past 90 degrees. If the surgeon used an anterior approach, meaning from the front, the child should not extend her leg behind her or lie on her stomach. With either approach, avoid crossing the midline of the body, such as crossing the legs. Keep toes and knees facing forward and avoid rotating the operated hip inward.

  Avoid sitting for more than an hour or two at a time without changing positions as this can place strain on your hip. Keep your operated hip in a neutral position if you sleep on your side. If you sleep on your strong side, place one or two pillows between your knees so that your operated hip does not fall across your body. (See References 2 and 3)

Walking and Stairs

• Children who have had hip surgery will need to use crutches for walking and climbing steps for several weeks. Younger children and those who do not have the coordination required for crutches can use a walker to assist them. The doctor or therapist will tell you when the child should stop using assistive devices for walking. They should gradually increase the amount of weight put on the foot on the operated side under a therapist's supervision, going from no weight bearing at all to full weight over the span of several weeks. Do not rush weight bearing as this can injure the child's hip and may necessitate other surgeries.

  When going up a flight of steps, lead with your strong leg, followed by your operated leg and then your crutches or walker. To go down steps, reverse the directions. Place your crutches or walker on the lower step first, then your operated leg and land with your strong leg last. (See Reference 3)

Daily Living

• Children who have had hip surgery should avoid stooping and bending forward. Keep a healthy diet to avoid excessive weight gain. Use handicapped bathrooms with higher toilet seats to prevent squatting too low and purchase an elevated toilet seat for your child to use at home prior to surgery. Do not allow children who have had hip surgery recently to sit in the bathtub.

Exercise

• Children should faithfully perform the exercises given to them by their physical therapist to make the most of the rehabilitation process and to shorten the length of their recovery time. Swimming and riding a stationary bike are good exercises for hip surgery patients. Younger children and those who cannot swim should have an adult in the water with them. Do not swim until after the incision heals. Raise the seat of a stationary bike a little higher so that the hip does not bend too much. The child should not ride a stationary bike until four weeks after surgery or when directed to do so by a therapist.