Ronald W. Hillock, M.D.
RECOVERY GUIDELINES: TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Recovery following a knee arthroscopy is more rapid than traditional knee surgery.
PHYSICAL THERAPY: A referral to an outpatient physical therapy center is given to the patient
prior to surgery and they are advised that physical therapy is very important to long-term satisfaction
and quality function after surgery. Therapeutic exercise will play a key role in the recovery and final
outcome. The patient is strongly advised to participate in physical therapy.
COMPRESSION: Continue to wear your white stockings for 1 month following surgery. These may
be taken off for a few hours a day. It is most important to wear the stocking at night. If you need to
purchase more stockings, they can be purchased at Walgreens or Walmart.
MEDICATIONS: The patient is advised to consult with their primary care provider before altering
any prescription medication patterns. The patient is given a prescription for pain medication at their
pre-operative appointment. They should fill this prescription prior to the surgery date. Finish taking
all blood thinners until completed.
BATHING: You may take a shower. The strips that were placed on your incision will fall off in about
10 days. If they have not fallen off in that time period, you can remove them yourself. No bathtubs,
hot tubs, or swimming pools for 2 weeks after surgery. Submerging the incision may create an
infection.
BEARING WEIGHT & WALKER: If you are only toe touch weight bearing, you will continue this
for 1 month from today’s appointment. Use your front wheel walker until you are full weight bearing.
You may gradually move from using your front wheel walker to a cane to walking independently. If
you want, you may go from front wheel walker to ambulating with nothing at all at your comfort level.
EMERGENCY: If the following signs, symptoms, or events occur after surgery: redness, warmth to
the touch, pus drainage, fever, unexplained pain the lower leg or calf muscle, difficulty breathing or
take a fall, call Dr. Hillock at the office for an appointment. If it is after office hours or on the
weekend, please visit the nearest Emergency Room.
Ronald W. Hillock, M.D.
PHYSICAL THERAPY: HOME EXERCISE PROGRAM
1- ANKLE PUMPS
• Move ankles up and down
• Complete exercise 5-15 times
2- GLUTEAL SQUEEZES
• Squeeze buttocks together
• Hold 5 seconds, then relax
• Complete exercise 3-5 times
3- QUADRICEP/ QUAD SETS
• Point your ankle toward your head
• Push both knees into mat making your
knee cap move toward you
• Hold 5 seconds, then relax
• Complete exercise 3-5 times
4- HEEL SLIDES
• Slide heel toward buttocks, then
slide heel back to the bed
• Perform one leg at a time
• Complete exercise 3-5 times
5- SHORT ARC QUADS
• With a bolster or rolled towel under knees,
straighten knee
• Hold 5 seconds, then relax
• Complete exercise 3-5 times
6- SITTING PUSH UPS
• Sitting in a hard chair with arm rests, push
with hands to lift buttocks off chair
• Hold for 3 seconds
• Complete this exercise 3-5 times
7- HIP FLEXION/ EXTENSION
• Hold on to countertop for these exercises
1- Raise leg in front of you, keeping
the knee straight, then lower leg
2- Raise the leg behind you, keeping
the knee straight, then lower leg
3- Complete each exercise 3-5 times
per leg
8- STANDING KNEE FLEXION
• Standing using a countertop for support
• Keeping your upper leg still, bend your
knee toward your buttocks and then lower
• Complete each exercise 3-5 times per leg