Rehabilitation after joint replacement is a life-long commitment.  It will make the long term difference to living with restored function and little or no pain. 

Treatment of a diseased joint doesn't end with surgical replacement. The ultimate goal is ensuring a pain-free function of the joint to improve the patient's quality of life.

The most important factor is to follow your doctor's prescribed rehabilitation program.  Excessive activity can damage tissue and/or the implant. 

The journey to recovery is not always an easy one. The rehabilitation from joint replacement surgery can be grueling, and can take about a year for full recovery so it takes dedication and determination. However, getting back to living life to the fullest is a powerful reward.

Exercise

Early rehabilitation includes gentle, range of motion (stretching) exercises designed to restore movement and strength to the joint and to promote blood flow for healing. Preexisting conditions such as hip weakness, osteoporosis, and the condition of other joints determine what and how much a patient can do.  A patient should only perform the exercises that are ordered by his or her surgeon.

Long term rehabilitation will include more, low-impact strengthening exercise.  Walking and swimming are ideal but are not a substitute for continuing prescribed exercise.  As time passes more vigorous activity can be undertaken – dancing, golfing (with spikeless shoes) and bicycling.  To be avoided are jarring or repetitive activities which overload the joint, (jogging, jumping, horseback riding), exercise that could result in excessive joint flexion (racquet sports) or contact sports (football, baseball).  There also may be weight bearing restrictions depending on the type of implant and other issues specific to an individual's situation.

Preventing infection

It's especially important to prevent any bacterial infections from settling in a joint implant. Every joint replacement patient should get a medical alert card and take antibiotics whenever there is the possibility of a bacterial infection.  Antibiotics are recommended during any invasive procedures, whether surgical, urological, gastroenterological, or dental.  Infections elsewhere in the body should also be treated to prevent seeding of infection into the joint.

Diet

Joint replacement patients should continue to watch their weight to avoid putting more stress on the joint as well as moderate their consumption of alcohol to avoid potential falls.

Life-long follow-up

Doctors follow patients with joint replacements according to a definite protocol. This includes at least a review at 1 year and every 2 to 3 years thereafter for life. This follow-up helps diagnose potential and actual problems which may arise.  The patient may not be aware of a problem without this exam.