Activity After Joint Replacements

Arthritis. It can be debilitating. When pain in your hips or knees keeps you from doing everyday activities, such as going up and down stairs, putting on socks and shoes, and chasing after grandchildren, it may be time to consider joint replacement surgery.

The goals of total joint replacement are to relieve pain, improve mobility, and optimize function. Good to excellent outcomes experienced by 85-90% of those having knee replacements and 95% of those with hip replacements. Although these procedures were originally intended for elderly patients with limited activity goals, the indications for joint replacement have been expanded to the younger, more active patient with arthritis.

One of the most frequently asked questions about hip and knee replacement is “What will I be able to do after surgery?” I caution patients that this is a major surgical procedure and full recovery can take two to three months. Immediately following surgery, most patients use crutches or a walker for at least two weeks. By six weeks after surgery, most people are transitioning off a cane and starting to resume normal activities.

Physical therapy is required to strengthen muscles, improve balance, and obtain optimal results following surgery. If you were unable to climb stairs or walk for long distances before surgery, it will take you more time to improve your strength and endurance.

What activities can you do after joint replacement surgery? You should expect to be able to return to all activities you did before surgery, but with less discomfort. Expect to return to work between six to twelve weeks following surgery. Long walks, gardening, hiking, biking, swimming, golf, doubles tennis, dancing, and low impact aerobic exercise are all activities that the majority of orthopaedic surgeons find acceptable following joint replacement. Higher impact activities, such as running, basketball, and racquetball ,if done routinely, may cause the new joint to wear out prematurely. Excessive weight may also predispose your new joint to premature wear or loosening. I tell my patients that I want them to be as active as possible following joint replacement. After all, that was the reason for doing the surgery in the first place!

Joint replacements are made of metal and plastic instead of bone and cartilage. These are artificial joints, not the knee or hip you had when you were twenty years old. They may feel different than your original joint. But they should not hurt. For those suffering with the pain of end-stage arthritis, a new hip or knee can be life altering.