Daily Life After Hip Replacement Surgery
Mark Besch | posted December 27, 2011 | 
Total hip replacement surgery can offer people a new lease on life. But there is a six to eight week recovery period and patients will need to make myriad changes in order to carry out daily activities. Total rehabilitation after surgery can take up to six months.
An occupational therapist (OT) can help these folks by teaching them new ways to move safely and effectively and by providing handy equipment and gear for activities such as bathing, grooming, cooking and dressing.
During rehabilitation and as the patient prepares to return home, the OT will:
• Show the person proper seating positions. For example, leg-crossing is a major no-no.
• Establish safe and effective techniques for entering and exiting a car
• Demonstrate methods for transferring from the walker to a chair, a bed or a bath chair in the tub or shower
• Educate family and caregivers about the patient’s surgical hip precautions and the best way to help
• Provide the patient with adaptive equipment to assist with dressing, like a dressing stick to pull on underwear or pants without bending too much at the hip
• Instruct on safe techniques for getting in and out of bed and positioning the hip correctly during sleep
• Make suggestions for completing household tasks easily
With education and instruction from an OT, those recovering from a total hip replacement can recuperate more comfortably and safely.
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