Are you looking for a joint-friendly exercise for your hip replacement recovery this summer? Look no more! Swimming is an excellent summer workout that will help aid you in your recovery journey.
After undergoing hip replacement, you must take time to rebuild strength and mobility in your new hip joint through gentle, targeted exercises. Aquatic therapy is an excellent way to do this without putting unnecessary stress on your hip. Due to the buoyancy of water, your body will feel lighter and more supported when swimming, relieving your new hip joint of excess stress. Swimming will also give you the confidence to start working out your new hip joint without fear of falling or injury.
In addition to swimming being low-impact, it is a very effective workout. Water provides a natural resistance for your body to push against, encouraging a robust muscle-building workout. Swimming is also a great cardiovascular workout promoting improved blood flow that will help in healing your hip joint.
Here are some excellent workouts you can do during your next workout session at the pool:
- Swim Laps: Start slowly with a couple of laps, gradually increasing to build up strength and mobility in your hip.
- Walk/Jog Underwater: While you may not be able to jog on land just yet, you can in the water! Start with walking underwater and gradually increase your speed as you gain confidence.
- Hip Curls: Test your flexibility in your hip joint with gentle hip curls in the pool. Carefully raise your knee as far as you can; your range of motion will improve over time.
- Flutter Kicks: Try flutter kicks by holding onto the edge of the pool while getting into a swimming position. Then alternate gently kicking either leg until you feel tired to build strength and endurance in your new hip.
If you are starting your recovery journey after hip replacement, consider swimming to help you along the way! Our Dr. Andrew Ehmke at Hinsdale Orthopedics helps patients find proven methods, such as aquatic therapy, to boost their recovery. Get world class care today!
AUTHOR: Dr. Andrew Ehmke is a board-certified and fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted and minimally invasive hip and knee replacement in Chicagoland and NW Indiana.
