How Physical Therapy Can Minimize Your Need for Hip Surgery

Physical therapy before surgery might minimize your need for a hip replacement. Taking part in physical therapy before hip replacement surgery can reduce the cost of post-op care services, decrease rehabilitation needs and costs, and improve post-surgical outcomes. 

It might even help you avoid surgery altogether.

Our board-certified surgeons at the Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson provide comprehensive strategies to reduce pain, enhance musculoskeletal function, and lower your risk of reinjury with physical therapy before and after treatment.

Physical therapy before hip surgery

It’s important to be healthy and fit before hip replacement. Not only is it significant for the success of hip surgery, but it also may help you avoid or postpone surgery altogether. You can create the best possible conditions for your hip joint with targeted muscle building.

Preventive or protective measures are critical if you experience joint pain. Physical therapy improves mobility and strength and gives you greater confidence in your abilities.

Is physical therapy right for me?

You might think that physical therapy is only beneficial after surgery. But in some cases, it can also help prevent surgical intervention. You might be ready for physical therapy if you have:

• Pain that worsens over time
• Pain that worsens during weight-bearing activities such as walking and stair climbing
• Hip muscle weakness
• Morning stiffness lasting around 30 minutes
• Joint inflammation

Altogether, these impairments lead to difficulty with everyday activities like dressing, putting on shoes, bathing, and getting into and out of a car. Eventually, if this condition continues to progress, your doctor may suggest a hip replacement.

How physical therapy relieves pain before surgery

Physical therapy is part of a conservative treatment plan. Although it won't cure the underlying osteoarthritis, it can help manage symptoms. 

Your physical therapist creates a plan to improve gait stability by reducing weight on the hip and enhancing the muscles surrounding it. Better hip support reduces tension at the joint, which may lessen pain brought on by physical activity.

Hip osteoarthritis pain is partially caused by bone-on-bone friction because of cartilage loss. We frequently suggest specific physical treatment besides more general workouts like walking or swimming to improve a range of muscles.

Preoperative physical therapy may prevent surgery

Physical therapy is frequently associated with recovery from surgery. Working with a physical therapist before surgery may have an unexpected outcome, even though preoperative physical therapy has a different goal than postoperative physical therapy. Surgery might not be necessary. 

Physical therapy may aid in healing soft tissue injuries and restoring function without requiring surgical intervention. But this isn’t the case for patients considering total joint replacement. 

Physical therapists are experts at helping patients regain movement and function throughout the body, whether or not surgery is involved. 

Try preoperative physical therapy first if you intend to have surgery. Your results might astound you.

Do you have hip pain, or are you planning joint replacement surgery? Participating in physical therapy before surgery provides you with the most optimal outcome. Contact our Henderson, Nevada, institute today.