How to Get Out of Bed With a Hip Replacement

After hip replacement surgery, you must avoid a certain set of movements to reduce the risk of dislocation. These restrictions, called precautions, alter the way you complete some everyday tasks during your recovery.
One precaution is that you must not bend your new hip more than 60 to 90 degrees. To avoid this, you need to learn a new way to get out of bed.

Things You'll Need

• A walker, crutches or cane

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Instructions

Getting of of bed after hip replacement surgery

• 1

  Move all the bedclothes out of the way so that you do not get tangled up in them. Make sure that your walker, crutches or cane is within reach.

• 2

  Position your body about 6 inches from the edge of the bed. Your leg that was operated on should be closest to the edge.
  Make sure that you are not on the very edge of the bed. You want to be stable when you stand up.
  If your legs feel stiff, take a moment to loosen up. Make circles with your ankles, point and flex your toes, stretch a little.

• 3

  Put your arms by your side, palms down near your hips, and gently push your shoulders off the bed a few inches. Keep your elbows on the bed.

• 4

  Slowly move your feet toward the edge of the bed. Use your elbows to push. Keep the operated leg straight and toes pointed upward.
  If you have trouble keeping your leg straight, try gently pressing the back of your knee into the bed. This also will keep your knee from rolling inward.
  For more leverage, bend the knee of the unoperated leg, and gently press your foot into the bed while moving your upper body with your elbows.
  Do not roll over on your side.

• 5

  Straighten your arms as you move your legs over the edge of the bed, and sit up. If your feet do not reach the floor, move forward until they do. Lean back slightly, with your hands on the bed behind your hips.

• 6

  Put the foot of your unoperated leg on the floor. The operated leg should be straight out in front of you. Make sure that you are stable before standing up.

• 7

  Put one hand on the walker or crutches. Push off the bed with your other hand into a standing position.
  Do not lean forward as you get up.