How to Bear Weight After Hip Fracture

A hip fracture can be a debilitating injury. The human hip is a ball and socket joint, with the head of the femur resting in a pocket in the pelvis. As you move, the hip joints pivot and swivel, absorbing much of your body weight. Recovering from a hip fracture can be an extensive process, and bearing weight on a healing hip should be done slowly to prevent re-injury.

Things You'll Need

• Crutches
• Cane

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Visit your doctor for a follow-up before attempting to bear any weight on your hip. Your doctor will evaluate your hip and make sure the fracture is healing well enough to allow you to walk on it. The doctor can answer any questions you have about your rehabilitation and recommend exercises to speed healing.

• 2

  Begin your rehabilitation by strengthening your hip and thigh muscles in the swimming pool. Hip fractures often result in muscle wasting because of inactivity, and swimming helps rebuild those muscles without placing too much stress on the healing bones. Thirty minutes of swimming three or four times a week for two weeks will build back muscle that wasted away after the fracture.

• 3

  Support yourself on crutches when you first begin walking. Place the majority of your weight on your good leg, allowing the injured leg to touch the ground, but avoid stepping down fully on it. As you become more comfortable with the crutches, place more weight on the injured side until you are placing equal weight on both legs. It can take a couple of weeks until you are able to bear your full weight on the injured leg.

• 4

  Trade the crutches in for a cane once you are able to walk on both legs without too much pain. Hold the cane in the hand on the same side as your injured leg to allow you to lean on the cane for extra support as the fracture heals. The cane should be approximately the same length as your legs to provide proper support.

• 5

  Use the cane until you are able to place full weight on the injured leg without pain or weakness. Start by leaving the cane in one room as you walk around the house, increasing the duration until you can make it through an entire day without it. If you become fatigued or experience high levels of pain, revert to using the cane until you are comfortable walking unsupported.