Preparing for Hip Replacement: Blood Tests, Imaging and the Medicine Review That Comes First

The letter arrives with a date and a list. Bring every medicine box you own. Do not eat after midnight. Someone will call about your blood results. For a person who has spent two years choosing which shoes are easiest to put on, the surgery itself is almost the easy part to imagine. It is the paperwork of the body that feels foreign.

That list is the point of this article. If you are trying to prepare for hip replacement surgery, the weeks before matter as much as the hour in the operating room, and most of the preparation is quieter than people expect: a few vials of blood, one or two pictures of the joint, and a long conversation about pills.

What follows explains what each step is for, why the medicine review comes before almost everything else, and what the first weeks afterward usually look like, drawing on guidance from national health services and major academic medical centers rather than on hearsay from a neighbor who had it done.

How the hip replacement pre-op assessment actually works

A pre-operative assessment is a planned appointment, usually in the two to six weeks before surgery, where a nurse, anesthesiologist or both check that your body is ready for an operation and that the team has everything it needs to plan it safely. The NHS describes this as the point where your general health, medicines and home situation are reviewed and any extra tests are ordered.

The visit tends to follow a predictable shape. Someone measures your height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen level. You describe past operations and any trouble with anesthesia, including in relatives. You list allergies. A nurse goes through your medicines one by one, which is why the letter asks you to bring the boxes rather than a memory of them. Blood is drawn. An electrocardiogram, a five-minute tracing of the heart’s electrical rhythm through stickers on the chest, is common for adults having joint surgery. If you have a heart or lung condition, the anesthesiologist may ask for further tests or a specialist opinion before signing off.

This appointment also has a second job: it is where the practical planning happens. Staff ask who will be at home with you, whether your bathroom is upstairs, and whether you already own a walker or crutches. In many programs a physical therapist or occupational therapist meets you the same day to measure chair heights and teach the exercises you will do afterward.

Think of the assessment less as a hurdle and more as a rehearsal. The team is building a picture of the risks specific to you so that the day itself holds fewer surprises. A finding that delays surgery, such as an unexpectedly low blood count or an untreated infection, is not a failure; it is exactly what the appointment exists to catch.

Which blood tests before hip replacement, and what each one checks

Blood tests before hip replacement are not a random panel. Each answers a question the surgical and anesthesia team must settle before you go to sleep.

A full blood count measures red cells, white cells and platelets. Hip replacement involves some blood loss, so the team wants to know your starting hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red cells. If it is low, the cause may be treated in the weeks before surgery rather than discovered on the table. Platelets matter because they form the first plug in a bleeding vessel.

Kidney function tests, usually urea, creatinine and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, tell the anesthesiologist how your kidneys will handle fluids and medicines during and after the operation. Several common painkillers and some antibiotics are dosed according to kidney function by the prescribing clinician, so this result shapes the whole post-operative plan.

A clotting screen checks how quickly your blood forms a clot. This is especially relevant if you take an anticoagulant, a medicine that slows clotting, or if you have liver disease.

A group-and-save, sometimes called type-and-screen, identifies your blood group and checks for antibodies so that matched blood is available quickly if a transfusion is ever needed. Most people never need one; the sample is insurance.

Blood glucose or HbA1c, a three-month average of blood sugar, is checked in people with diabetes or risk factors for it, because high glucose around surgery is linked to slower wound healing and infection. A swab of the nose or skin for Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that lives harmlessly on many people but can infect a new joint, is also common; if positive, a short decolonization routine may be prescribed. Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins both list these pre-operative checks as routine parts of planning the operation.

What imaging comes before hip replacement: X-ray, CT and templating

The picture most people already have is the plain X-ray, and for the majority that remains the main image used to plan a hip replacement. An X-ray shows bone density, the shape of the socket and the ball, how much cartilage has been lost, and whether the leg lengths differ. A standing pelvis view and a side view of the affected hip are typical.

Surgeons use these films for templating, the process of overlaying scaled outlines of implant components on the image to estimate the size and position of the parts before the operation begins. Modern templating is often done digitally on the screen, with a marker of known size placed on the patient during the X-ray so the software can correct for magnification. Templating does not fix the final choice; the surgeon still confirms fit during surgery.

A CT scan, which uses many X-ray slices to build a three-dimensional model, is added in specific situations rather than routinely: unusual anatomy, previous fractures or surgery around the hip, severe bone loss, or when robotic or computer-navigated systems that require a 3D model are used. An MRI, which images soft tissue using magnets rather than radiation, is uncommon before a standard replacement because the decision has usually already been made on X-ray and symptoms; it may be requested if the diagnosis is uncertain, for example to check for avascular necrosis, a loss of blood supply to the ball of the hip.

Beyond the joint itself, a chest X-ray is not routine for healthy adults but may be ordered if you have lung disease, a recent chest infection or a heavy smoking history. The purpose of every image is the same: to reduce guesswork so that the surgical plan matches your anatomy rather than an average one.

The medicine review: blood thinners, anti-inflammatories and supplements

Of everything on the pre-op list, the medicine review is the step with the most decisions attached, and every one of them belongs to the clinicians who prescribe for you. This section describes mechanisms and typical timelines only.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines reduce the blood’s ability to clot. Warfarin, the newer direct oral anticoagulants, and antiplatelet agents such as aspirin or clopidogrel are each handled differently, because they leave the body at different speeds and are prescribed for different reasons. Some are paused for a number of days before surgery; others are continued because the risk of stopping, such as a stroke in someone with a heart valve or recent stent, outweighs the bleeding risk. The NHS advises telling your team about any medicine that thins the blood well before the day, precisely so this can be planned with the doctor who prescribed it. Never stop these yourself.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the class that includes ibuprofen and naproxen, also affect platelets and kidney function and are often paused shortly before surgery. Acetaminophen usually is not, but again the team decides.

Diabetes medicines, including insulin and certain tablets, are adjusted around fasting so that blood sugar neither drops during the fast nor climbs after surgery. Blood pressure medicines are mostly continued, with a few exceptions your anesthesiologist will name.

Herbal remedies and supplements are the part people forget. Fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo and ginseng have all been associated with increased bleeding tendency, and St John’s wort interacts with anesthetic and pain medicines. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that many supplements can interact with prescription drugs, which is why the team asks about them explicitly. Bring the bottles.

Hormone-containing medicines, including combined oral contraceptives and some forms of hormone replacement, raise clot risk and are sometimes paused before major joint surgery. Whether that applies to you is a conversation, not a rule.

Who is usually offered hip replacement now, and who is asked to wait

Hip replacement is usually offered when arthritis or another joint disease causes pain and stiffness that limit daily life and have not responded adequately to non-surgical measures. The NHS lists osteoarthritis as the most common reason, followed by rheumatoid arthritis, hip fracture, and conditions such as avascular necrosis or developmental dysplasia. Age alone is not the deciding factor; function is. Someone in their fifties who cannot work because of hip pain may be a stronger candidate than someone in their eighties who walks comfortably with a cane.

Being asked to wait is common and rarely means never. Teams typically postpone when something fixable would raise the risk of the operation:

• An active infection anywhere, including a dental abscess, a urinary infection or an infected skin wound, because bacteria in the bloodstream can settle on a new implant.
• Poorly controlled diabetes, since high blood sugar slows healing and increases infection risk.
• Anemia that has not been investigated or treated.
• Recent heart attack, stroke or unstable angina, where anesthesia carries extra risk until the condition settles.
• Current smoking, in some programs, because smoking impairs bone and wound healing; a period of abstinence may be requested.

Body weight is discussed honestly in many clinics because a higher body mass index is associated with a greater risk of wound complications and infection. Some services ask people above a threshold to work with a dietitian first; others proceed with additional precautions. Either way, the conversation should be respectful and framed around risk, not judgment.

Alternatives are also part of this discussion. Physical therapy, weight-bearing adjustments, walking aids, oral analgesics and steroid injections into the joint can all manage symptoms for a time. A less common option, hip resurfacing, preserves more bone but suits a narrower group. The treating team weighs these against your goals, and the final decision sits with them and you together.

What should you not do before a hip replacement?

People search this question constantly, and the honest answer is that the list is shorter than the internet suggests. Most of it concerns the final two weeks.

Do not stop or start any medicine without instruction. That includes stopping a blood thinner because a leaflet worried you and starting a supplement because a friend swore by it.

Do not eat or drink outside the fasting instructions. Typical anesthesia guidance allows solid food until about six hours before and clear fluids until about two hours before, but your written instructions override any general figure, because timing depends on your slot and your medical history. Fasting reduces the chance of stomach contents entering the lungs during anesthesia.

Do not shave the operative area yourself in the days before. Small nicks in the skin are entry points for bacteria; if hair removal is needed, staff use clippers on the day.

Do not ignore a new illness. A cold, a chest infection, a urinary infection or a flare of a skin condition should be reported to the pre-op team even the night before. Surgery may be postponed, and that is safer than proceeding.

Do not leave dental work undone if you have a known problem. Many surgeons ask for infected teeth to be treated beforehand, because oral bacteria can travel to a new joint.

Do not use nicotine, if you can possibly avoid it. The CDC notes that smoking increases the risk of complications after surgery and slows healing. Stopping even a few weeks before helps, and your team can point you to support.

Alcohol in the days before surgery interacts with anesthetic and pain medicines and can worsen bleeding. Cutting back well in advance is sensible; do not quit abruptly on your own if you drink heavily every day, as sudden withdrawal is itself a medical risk your team needs to know about.

Prepare for hip replacement surgery: a typical timeline at a glance

Every program sets its own schedule, and yours will be written down. The table below shows the shape most pathways share, so the individual steps make sense as a sequence rather than a pile of instructions. Timeframes are typical ranges drawn from NHS and Mayo Clinic patient guidance, not promises.

When	What usually happens	Why
6–12 weeks before	Decision confirmed; dental check; start prescribed exercises; begin stopping smoking	Healing capacity and infection risk are shaped weeks in advance
2–6 weeks before	Pre-op assessment: blood tests, ECG, X-ray, medicine review, home planning	Identifies fixable risks and lets the team plan anesthesia and implants
1–2 weeks before	Prescriber gives instructions on pausing anticoagulants, NSAIDs, supplements	Balances bleeding risk against the reason each medicine is taken
Days before	Home set up; equipment collected; skin wash or nasal treatment if prescribed	Reduces bacterial load and removes trip hazards before you are on crutches
Night before / morning of	Fasting as instructed; specified medicines taken with a sip of water; no jewelry or nail polish	Safe anesthesia and reliable oxygen monitoring
Day of surgery	Checks repeated, consent confirmed, anesthesia, operation of roughly 1–2 hours	Final safety verification

Two points deserve emphasis. First, the exercise column is not decorative. Strengthening the muscles around the hip and the arms before surgery, sometimes called prehabilitation, makes the first days on a walker easier, and physical therapists routinely prescribe it. Second, the medicine column is deliberately vague on numbers of days, because those figures belong in the letter from your prescriber, not in a magazine.

If a date on your own timeline seems to conflict with this table, trust your letter. The table is a map of the territory; your team has the local knowledge.

How to prepare your home for hip replacement recovery

The most useful preparation often costs nothing and happens on your hands and knees with a tape measure. You will come home walking with a frame or crutches, unable to bend far and tiring quickly. The house needs to meet you where you will be, not where you are now.

Start with seating. A chair with a firm seat, arms, and a height that keeps your hips level with or above your knees makes standing up possible without pulling on the new joint. Measure the seat height and compare it with your knee-to-floor distance; a firm cushion can raise a chair that is slightly low. Soft sofas and deep armchairs are the enemy for the first weeks.

Clear the floors. Rugs, cables, pet beds and the pile of shoes by the door are all trip hazards for someone on crutches. Move frequently used items in the kitchen to waist height so you are not reaching high or bending low. Set up a small station beside your chair: phone, charger, water, medicines, the remote, a book.

The bathroom deserves particular attention. A raised toilet seat or frame, a non-slip mat, and a long-handled sponge are standard suggestions from occupational therapists. If the bathroom is upstairs, ask your team whether a commode downstairs is sensible for the first week or two. Stairs themselves are usually manageable with instruction, but you will want to limit trips.

Stock the freezer. Cook and freeze meals or arrange deliveries for the first two weeks, when standing to cook is tiring. Arrange a driver: you will not be able to drive yourself home, and the NHS notes that most people do not resume driving for around six weeks, subject to the surgeon’s advice and your insurer’s rules.

Lastly, decide where you will sleep. A bed that is too low is as awkward as a chair that is too low; a firm mattress and, if your team advises hip precautions, a pillow between the knees for side-lying, are worth arranging in advance.

What actually happens on the day and in the first 48 hours

You arrive fasted, in loose clothes, with your medicine list. A nurse repeats the checks from the assessment: blood pressure, temperature, pregnancy test where relevant, allergy band. The surgeon marks the correct hip with a pen and confirms consent. The anesthesiologist explains the plan, which for hip replacement is very often a spinal anesthetic, an injection into the lower back that numbs the body from the waist down, combined with sedation so you doze. A general anesthetic is the alternative, and some people have both. The choice depends on your health and the team’s judgment.

The operation itself typically takes one to two hours. The surgeon removes the damaged ball at the top of the thigh bone and the worn cartilage in the socket, then fits a metal or ceramic ball on a stem inside the femur and a cup, usually metal with a plastic or ceramic liner, into the pelvis. Components are either pressed tightly into bone that grows onto them or fixed with a fast-setting bone cement, or a mix of both. MedlinePlus and the NHS both describe this sequence.

In recovery you will be monitored while the anesthetic wears off. Pain relief is planned in layers: local anesthetic placed around the joint during surgery, regular oral medicines, and stronger options for breakthrough pain, all managed by the ward team. Expect a drip, possibly a urinary catheter for a short time, and compression stockings or inflating leg cuffs to reduce clot risk.

The surprise for most people is how soon they stand. Many programs have patients up with a physical therapist on the day of surgery or the next morning. Early walking reduces clot risk, wakes the bowel and lungs, and builds confidence. Hospital stay is commonly one to three days, though some people go home the same day and others need longer, depending on how safely they can move and who is at home.

Hip replacement recovery timeline: what the first six weeks usually look like

Recovery is not a straight line, and knowing the usual shape helps people stop worrying about the wrong things.

Days one to three are often the hardest. The spinal or general anesthetic has worn off, the local anesthetic in the wound is fading, and swelling peaks. Nausea from anesthesia and constipation from opioid pain medicines are common and treatable; tell the ward staff rather than waiting. Nights can be difficult because finding a comfortable position takes practice. People frequently say the mental adjustment, from being cared for to doing things themselves, is harder than the incision.

Days four to fourteen bring a shift. Pain usually becomes more predictable and is increasingly managed with simpler medicines, on the prescriber’s plan. Walking distance grows day by day. The wound is checked and, if closed with clips or non-dissolving stitches, these are typically removed around ten to fourteen days. Bruising can track down the thigh and look dramatic; that alone is not a warning sign. Swelling of the ankle and foot on the operated side is common and improves with elevation and walking.

Weeks two to six are about rebuilding. Most people progress from a walker to crutches to a single cane during this period, following their physical therapist’s cues. The NHS notes that many people can stop using walking aids by about six weeks and that returning to driving is often considered around then, with the surgeon’s agreement. Desk-based work sometimes resumes within this window; physically demanding work takes longer.

Beyond six weeks, strength and endurance continue to improve for months. Mayo Clinic describes recovery continuing for several months, with most people noticing that the deep arthritic ache is gone even while the surgical soreness settles. Set expectations accordingly: this is a marathon in which the first mile is the steepest.

Bathroom, dressing and sitting: the practical questions nobody asks aloud

Three of the most searched questions about hip replacement are ones people are embarrassed to raise in clinic. They deserve straight answers.

How do you wipe after hip replacement? For the first weeks you may be asked to avoid bending the hip past a right angle or twisting on the operated leg, especially after a posterior approach, where the surgeon enters from the back of the hip. Reaching behind twists the trunk and flexes the hip; reaching between the legs from the front avoids both. Occupational therapists commonly suggest a long-handled toilet aid that grips paper or a wipe, or a bidet attachment for the toilet. A raised seat makes the whole process easier. There is no dignity lost in asking a therapist to show you; it is their routine work.

Why do some teams say no recliner? Recliners are low, soft and tilt the pelvis backward, which pushes the hip into deep flexion as you sink into the seat and forces a strong pull on the joint as you rise. In the early weeks, when the soft tissues around the new joint are healing and the risk of dislocation is highest, that combination is exactly what precautions aim to avoid. An upright recliner with a firm seat that stays high may be acceptable to your team; the sunken, rocking kind usually is not. Ask specifically about yours.

Dressing works with tools and sequence. A sock aid, a long shoehorn, elastic laces and a reacher let you dress the operated leg without bending. Put the operated leg into trousers first and take it out last.

Sleeping is usually on your back at first, then on the non-operated side with a pillow between the knees if your team requests precautions. Some approaches, such as the anterior approach through the front of the hip, come with fewer restrictions. Your own surgeon’s instructions take precedence over anything general.

What people often get wrong about preparing for hip replacement

Myth: rest the hip as much as possible before surgery to save it. The opposite is closer to the truth. Muscles that are weak going in are weaker coming out, and a pre-operative exercise program prescribed by a physical therapist is standard because stronger hip and arm muscles make the early days on a walker safer.

Myth: supplements are natural, so they do not count as medicines. Several common supplements affect clotting or interact with anesthetic drugs, which is why the pre-op team asks about them by name. Leaving them off the list is one of the most frequent gaps found at assessment.

Myth: stopping a blood thinner for a few days is harmless. For some people it is manageable; for others, particularly those with a recent stent, a mechanical heart valve or atrial fibrillation with high stroke risk, stopping without a bridging plan is dangerous. This is why the decision is made by the prescriber, not the patient.

Myth: a delay because of a dental problem or infection means the surgeon has doubts about you. It means the surgeon is protecting an implant that cannot fight infection the way living tissue can. Treating the source first is the standard approach.

Myth: a longer hospital stay means a better recovery. Early mobilization and going home when it is safe to do so are associated with fewer complications, not more. Length of stay reflects how safely you can move and what support exists at home.

Myth: once the hip is replaced, the arthritis is gone and nothing further is needed. The damaged joint is gone, but the muscles, balance and habits around it still need rebuilding, and the implant benefits from lifelong sensible use. Follow-up X-rays at intervals set by the surgeon are the normal way of checking that the components remain well fixed.

Questions to ask your care team before hip replacement

Consultations are short and it is easy to leave with the big question answered and the small ones forgotten. Write yours down. The following are ones clinicians generally welcome, because they lead to safer plans.

• Which of my medicines should I keep taking on the morning of surgery, and which will you ask me to pause? Who will give me the exact instructions for my blood thinner?
• Which surgical approach are you planning, and will I have movement precautions afterward? For how long?
• What type of anesthesia are you recommending for me, and why?
• Do I need a dental check or any other treatment completed before the date?
• What is the plan if my blood tests show anemia or high blood sugar?
• How will pain be managed in hospital and at home, and who do I contact if it is not controlled?
• How long do you expect me to stay in hospital, and what needs to be true for me to go home?
• What equipment should I have at home before I arrive, and can someone assess my house?
• When can I shower, drive, return to work and travel, in your experience with people like me?
• How will I prevent blood clots after discharge, and for how long?
• What are the specific risks in my case, including infection, dislocation, leg-length difference and nerve injury, and how do you reduce them?
• What are the alternatives if I decide not to proceed now?

Bring someone with you if you can. A second set of ears catches what anxiety filters out, and the person who will help you at home benefits from hearing the plan first-hand. If anything you are told conflicts with something you have read, including this article, say so; your team’s instructions are tailored to you and take precedence.

When to call your doctor: red-flag signs before and after hip replacement

Before surgery, contact the pre-op team promptly if you develop a fever, a cough with green or yellow phlegm, burning when passing urine, a new skin infection, diarrhea or vomiting, or any illness in the days before your date. Call also if you have started or stopped any medicine, had a fall, or noticed chest pain or breathlessness. Postponing is safer than proceeding unwell.

After surgery, some signs need same-day contact with the ward, your surgeon’s office or your family doctor:

• Increasing pain, redness, warmth or swelling around the wound, or fluid that is cloudy, smelly or increasing.
• A temperature above 100.4°F (38°C), shaking chills or feeling generally unwell.
• New calf pain, tenderness or swelling in either leg, which can signal a deep vein thrombosis, a clot in a deep leg vein.
• Falls, a sudden inability to bear weight, a leg that looks shorter or turned outward, or a sensation that the hip has come out of place, which may indicate dislocation.
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the foot that is new or worsening.
• Persistent vomiting, inability to keep fluids or medicines down, or no bowel movement for several days despite treatment.

Call emergency services immediately, rather than the clinic, for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, fainting, or a fast irregular heartbeat, because these can indicate a pulmonary embolism, a clot that has traveled to the lungs. Sudden weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping or trouble speaking are signs of a possible stroke and also need emergency care.

Bleeding that soaks through the dressing and does not slow with firm pressure, or a wound that opens, also warrant urgent assessment.

None of these lists replaces the specific discharge instructions you are given, and if you are unsure whether something matters, the safest rule is to call. Ward teams would far rather hear about a false alarm than miss an early infection or clot, and every decision about what to do next belongs with the clinicians who know your case.

Frequently asked questions

What should you not do before a hip replacement?

Do not change any medicine without instruction, eat or drink outside your fasting window, shave the operative area yourself, ignore a new infection, or smoke. Report colds, urinary symptoms, skin problems or dental pain to the pre-op team even the night before, because surgery may be safely postponed. Avoid alcohol in the days beforehand, but tell your team if you drink daily rather than stopping abruptly on your own.

What are the hardest days after hip replacement?

For most people the first two to three days are the toughest, as anesthesia and local anesthetic wear off, swelling peaks, and nausea or constipation from medicines can appear. Sleep is often disrupted while you learn comfortable positions. Pain usually becomes more predictable by the end of the first week and walking distance improves daily. Tell staff early about uncontrolled pain, nausea or constipation; all three are treatable.

How do you wipe yourself after hip replacement surgery?

Reach from the front, between the legs, rather than twisting behind, which keeps the hip below a right angle and avoids rotation. Occupational therapists commonly recommend a long-handled toilet aid that holds paper or a wipe, a bidet attachment, and a raised toilet seat. Ask your therapist to demonstrate before discharge; it is routine for them. Restrictions vary with surgical approach, so follow your own team’s precautions.

Why no recliner after hip replacement?

Soft, low recliners tilt the pelvis back and let you sink so the hip flexes deeply, then demand a strong pull on the joint to stand. In the early weeks, when tissues are healing and dislocation risk is highest, teams often advise firm chairs with arms and a seat at or above knee height instead. An upright recliner with a firm, high seat may be acceptable; ask your surgeon about your specific chair.

Which blood tests before hip replacement are routine?

A full blood count, kidney function and electrolytes, a clotting screen and a group-and-save for blood matching are standard. People with diabetes or risk factors usually have glucose or HbA1c checked, and many programs swab the nose or skin for Staphylococcus aureus. Results guide anesthesia, fluid and medicine planning and can prompt treatment of anemia or high blood sugar before the operation rather than after.

Do I have to stop blood thinners before hip replacement?

Many people do pause them for a set number of days, but some continue or switch to a temporary alternative because stopping would raise the risk of stroke or clot more than it lowers bleeding risk. The decision depends on which medicine you take and why. Only the prescribing clinician, working with the surgical team, should give the instruction, and it will be written down for you.

How long is the hip replacement pre-op assessment?

Plan for a half day. The appointment itself commonly runs one to three hours, including nursing checks, blood draws, an ECG, an X-ray if not already done, and often a meeting with a physical or occupational therapist. If the anesthesiologist needs extra tests or a specialist opinion, you may be asked to return. Bring every medicine and supplement you take, in its original packaging.

Why do I need a dental check before hip replacement?

Bacteria from infected gums or teeth can enter the bloodstream and settle on a new implant, where they are very hard to clear. Many surgeons therefore ask for known dental problems to be treated before surgery and for routine dental work to be finished beforehand. This is a precaution against joint infection, not a judgment about your teeth, and your dentist and surgeon can coordinate timing.

How long does hip replacement recovery take?

The NHS describes most people leaving hospital within one to three days, walking with aids for around four to six weeks, and considering driving at about six weeks with the surgeon’s agreement. Mayo Clinic notes that strength and endurance keep improving for several months. These are typical ranges rather than promises; your own timeline depends on your health, the surgical approach and how recovery progresses.

Should I exercise before hip replacement surgery?

Yes, if your team agrees. Prehabilitation, meaning prescribed exercises in the weeks before surgery, strengthens the muscles around the hip and in the arms so that using a walker or crutches is easier afterward. A physical therapist will usually give you a program and teach the post-operative exercises in advance. Resting the joint completely beforehand tends to make the first days harder, not easier.

References

• NHS: Hip replacement
• MedlinePlus: Hip joint replacement
• Cleveland Clinic: Hip replacement

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.