Yoga & Hip Replacements
While some may believe hip replacement surgery is debilitating and greatly affects mobility, a few months of physical therapy and a doctor's approval can have most patients practicing yoga again. According to the Yoga-Teacher-Training.org, yoga is not only possible for hip replacement patients, but it may help to speed up recovery, strengthen the joint and help a patient regain freedom of movement.
Basic Guidelines
The "oga Journal recommends several guiding principles for practicing yoga after hip replacement surgery 1. Always ask your doctor or physical therapist for recommendations and clearances. She may be able to give you a list of movements you should avoid as well as movements that are helpful to strengthening your hip. When practicing yoga, you should always be working toward establishing a functional range of motion. However, you should never strain yourself by trying to do too much too soon. If you experience pain, stop and tell your instructor. She will almost always be able to offer alternative positions for you.
- The "oga Journal recommends several guiding principles for practicing yoga after hip replacement surgery 1.
- When practicing yoga, you should always be working toward establishing a functional range of motion.
Considerations
Degenerative Disk Disease & Yoga
Learn More
Before you begin practicing yoga again, consider the changes in your body. Consider too that it will also take longer to get down onto the floor and stand up again, so avoid changing positions too many times. Other things to think about are the time that has lapsed since your operation and your own level of flexibility and strength. Lastly, one major consideration is the surgical approach your doctor used. A posterior approach means she went in from the rear, and an anterior approach means she went in from the side or front.
- Before you begin practicing yoga again, consider the changes in your body.
- Other things to think about are the time that has lapsed since your operation and your own level of flexibility and strength.
Posterior Approach
If your doctor conducted surgery through a posterior approach, the following actions are most likely to cause:
- dislocation: aduction
- or crossing your legs at knees; flexion
- or bending forward at the hips;
- internal rotation
- or turning your thighs inward
However, back bending postures and spread-leg positions such as
- Utthita Trikonasana
- or Triangle Pose,
- Virabhadrasana II
- or Warrior II
- should not give you problems
It is recommended that any patient who has undergone hip replacement surgery through a posterior approach should not cross her legs for three to six months or bend forward at the hips past 90 degrees for one year.
Anterior Approach
Does Yoga Cause Numbness and Tingling in Hands?
Learn More
Unlike posterior surgery, backbends should be avoided, as well. Stay away from sitting postures that turn the thigh bone out, wide abductions, and any poses that cause hyperextention of the hip for one year after surgery. A Boat Pose using a block between the thighs is a recommended pose, as well as any movement that strengthens the hip flexors and adductors.
Other Tips
There are several other important tips for hip replacement patients practicing yoga 1. The Yoga Journal says to always be sure that your thighs are rooted in the hip sockets when doing poses. Make sure you are not putting all of your weight on either hip. A chair may be used as an alternative to getting onto the floor. Many poses that focus on your arms and core can be done in a chair. Don't overexert yourself, but don't be afraid to move your body, either. Yoga is not just physical, but spiritual, and can promote healing in both ways.
- There are several other important tips for hip replacement patients practicing yoga 1.
- The Yoga Journal says to always be sure that your thighs are rooted in the hip sockets when doing poses.
Related Articles
References
Writer Bio
Jamie Mastrangelo has been writing since 2003. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications at Pace University where she served as managing editor of her college newspaper. Mastrangelo is studying to become an English teacher at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She writes health and feature articles.