Key Takeaways
- Yes, you can run after hip replacement surgery, but it is not generally recommended until after a dedicated healing period and getting your doctor’s support.
- Consider waiting until you receive confirmation from your doctor and exploring alternative light-impact exercises before returning to running.
- Stay active with less harsh activities like cycling, swimming, elliptical training, and other activities to increase mobility and strength.
- Focus on building strength in your core, glutes, and hip muscles to support and stabilize the joint during recovery.
Running After Hip Replacement Requires Caution
While some people may be able to run after a hip replacement, many doctors will urge caution to avoid aggravating the area and delaying the healing process. Running is considered a high-impact exercise, meaning that with every step, you exert significant force through your legs, on the joints, and on the implant materials.
The force from running can be very tough on your joints, like your knees and hips, which are responsible for absorbing the impacts; this is especially the case when healing from joint replacement surgery. Running too soon could cause damage to the healing area or prolong your recovery.
Still, running after hip replacement is not completely out of the realm of possibility—after all, there are many athletes with hip replacements—but it depends on your current condition and how you ease yourself back into activity. If you’re considering running after hip replacement surgery, it’s important to think about how you build yourself back up into it.
What Your New Hip Can Handle Under Repetitive Impact
Mind over matter is not the only factor in your road to recovery; patients must consider the actual capabilities of the artificial implant placed into their hip. The prosthesis is intended to be very durable, but repetitive impact can pose risks for the materials long term.
Running places a significant vertical load on the joint that can affect the longevity of the implant, even after a full recovery. Older materials used in joint replacement tend to degrade much more quickly under repetitive impact, while there is still more evidence needed to understand the risks associated with newer materials.
It’s important to consider all of the context behind the recovery process to support the smoothest possible recovery, such as your activity level and muscular health. Understanding your implant capabilities and limits is key to being responsible about your recovery plan and putting yourself in the best position for long-term joint health.
When Running Becomes a Consideration in Recovery
Higher-impact activities are typically not a consideration until several months after your hip replacement procedure. Early recovery practices should focus on healing and range of motion to restore mobility and leg symmetry so that you can handle more intensive activities.
However, after your body begins responding positively to the healing process and low-impact exercises, running may become a more realistic consideration. If you can walk comfortably and tolerate light strength training, you may be able to start working your way up to running, if given the go-ahead by your doctor.
Running should only be a consideration when introduced gradually and carefully. When running does become a consideration, start with light jogging over very short distances to see how the recovery area and your body overall respond before rushing into high-impact activity.
Return to the Activities You Love
Our board-certified surgeons at The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale use the latest methods in hip surgery to provide you with the best possible outcome.
Why Surgeons Often Advise Against Running
Orthopedic specialists often advise against moving right back into running after hip replacement because of the intense pressure placed on the joint after the repeated motions and the damage it may cause.
Guidance typically depends on factors like age, activity level, implant type, and surgical approach. Younger or more active patients tend to have more tolerance and resilience for returning to high-impact activities, but for others, the benefits may not outweigh the costs.
When offering guidance, orthopedic surgeons consider your well-being, quality of life, and the longevity of your implant. In some cases, they may advise against running altogether, while in others, they may allow running if they are confident in your ability to maintain the proper precautions.
Talk to your surgeon about your recovery goals to determine what activities you may be able to incorporate back into your routine and how soon.
The Risks of Running After Hip Replacement
Running is a high-impact exercise that places significant stress on the joints with every strike of the foot. Not only does running cause a high impact, but it occurs hundreds of times in even a short run, creating considerable risk.
Some of the risks associated with running with a hip replacement include:
- Repetitive impact can accelerate wear and increase the risk of implant loosening
- Higher forces on the healing and recovered joint can cause pain, inflammation, or joint instability
- Falls during running can result in serious complications after joint replacement
Together, these risks could cause tissue or nerve damage. Running too soon or without proper buildup could put you in a position where you aggravate the healing process or reinjure the joint well before the lifespan of the implant.
Joint-Friendly Ways to Stay Active
You can keep going with exercises and activities that strengthen key muscles without placing excessive stress on your hip. Early recovery period activities should focus on improving flexibility and range of motion before moving into strength training or placing the joint under load.
Consider the following low-impact exercises:
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Elliptical training
- Yoga
- Walking
- Hiking
- Weight training on exercise machines
All of these approaches are low-stress ways to stay active. In addition to letting you remain active, these activities will help you strengthen and stabilize the joint for long-term progress.
How to Build Strength Before Increasing Impact
Strengthening the muscles around your hip is an important step to protecting your hip before getting back into physical activity. Your body works together as a unit, with your muscles supporting your joints and your joints supporting your muscles in return.
Lighter impact exercises can help you not only strengthen the muscles around your hip to stabilize your healing joint, but also stay busy even when you can’t jump right into running.
Strengthen these key areas to support your hip during recovery:
- Glutes – Exercises like bridges and prone hip extensions can strengthen the glutes, which are a key muscle group to hip stability.
- Core – Core exercises like sit-ups, planks, and bridges can reinforce core stability and support your hip function.
- Hip – Standing hip abductions, straight leg raises can help slowly strengthen the muscles around the joint.
Always progress gradually from low-impact exercises to give yourself time to strengthen and adjust. Pay careful attention to how your body responds to exercises; if you experience any pain or instability, you may need to dial it back or try a different approach.
Stretching the muscles around the hip, like the glutes and quadriceps, is also helpful for relieving pressure in the area and preventing inflammation. Soft-tissue therapy, massage, and alternative therapies can help increase circulation and reduce inflammation, promoting better healing.
Consulting your doctor or a physical therapist can help you find the right exercises for your point in the recovery phase to progress with minimal risk of setbacks.
Protecting Your Hip Through Smarter Activity Choices
If you’re considering running after hip replacement surgery, it’s crucial to take it easy to ensure a safe, smooth recovery. Running should not be your first activity after hip replacement surgery, but a careful approach with mindful exercises can safely get you back into running and your other favorite activities.
At The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale, we help you get back to your favorite activities sooner with our state-of-the-art robotic-assisted joint replacement procedures. Our advanced process utilizes minimally invasive procedures to achieve faster recovery times and better outcomes for our patients, so they can enjoy their best possible quality of life.
Request an appointment with us at The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale to start your path to comfort and confidence.