Physiotherapy Options Following a Total Hip Replacement

Once your total hip replacement surgery is completed you can expect to remain in the hospital approximately three to four days. While in the hospital, you will be seen by a physical therapist for rehabilitation generally two times per day. After you have been medically cleared by your surgeon, you will be visited by a hospital discharge planner who among other things gets your initial physical therapy set up prior to discharge.

It is during this discharge process that you will find out how to proceed with your rehabilitation and what options you have available. Depending on your personal circumstances and living situation at home, you will be either referred to a skilled nursing facility, home health company or, out-patient physical therapy. For most individuals you will either go to a skilled nursing facility or home health during the acute stage.

Listed are three options that you may have at your disposal after total hip surgery.

1. Skilled Nursing Facilities. These are generally for seniors who will need more follow-up once they are discharged from the hospital. It will also depend on your living situation whether or not you will have someone home to assist you with your care. For seniors that live alone, or have spouses that are not able to provide the necessary care this is the optimal choice.

Here you will receive not only physical therapy twice a day but also get occupational therapy as well. The rehabilitation here is more intensive than you would get at home and, your stay in these facilities generally run from 20 to 30 days. By the time you get discharged from these facilities you are much stronger and more mobile. Your chances of returning home and being able to function without having a great deal of care needed are much better.

2. Home Health. This is your next step after coming home from either a skilled nursing facility or from the hospital. The physical therapy you receive here will generally consist of three visits per week for three to four weeks. More can be provided if you need it and, of course depending on your insurance coverage. Home health is for the individual that is either younger, or has a caregiver or spouse at home that can assist you with the day to day activities that are required.

Many individuals prefer the home health setting just for simple fact that they feel more comfortable in their own home, eating their own food and, sleeping in their own bed. Once your home health visits are up and if needed, you may progress to out-patient physical therapy.

3. Out-Patient Physical Therapy. This is for patients that are roughly three to six weeks out from their surgery and are advancing as expected in their rehabilitation. Here, in the out-patient clinic the rehabilitation is more advanced, there is more strengthening and standing balance activities that are introduced and the patients pain level is easily manageable with medication and rest.

Once someone receives out-patient physical therapy for another three to four weeks it is at this point once discharged, you are on your own.

The total amount of physical therapy and the options listed will be at the sole discretion of your surgeon, physical therapist, and yourself. Not everyone will follow the same path through rehabilitation, that will all depend on the individual and their progression in making the surgery a complete success.