Can you play sports after a hip replacement
David Craig
Updated on April 15, 2026
Almost all doctors agree that low impact sports are fine and should be encouraged after hip replacement. These are activities such as golf, swimming, bowling, pleasure horseback riding, stationery cycling, ballroom dancing, walking and low-impact aerobics.
What sports can you do after a hip replacement?
While different surgeons may have different recommendations low-impact sports are generally safe for patients to participate in after having a total hip replacement. These include (but are not limited to) swimming, doubles tennis, golf, hiking, cycling, low-impact aerobics, and rowing.
What activities can you not do after a hip replacement?
Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, golfing and bicycling are very beneficial to patients recovering from joint replacement surgery. Avoid activities that involve impact stress on the joint, such as jogging or jumping, and contact sports, such as football.
How long after hip replacement can you play sports?
Usually, it takes about 3 months before your doctor will allow you to return to sports. In addition to relieving pain, many people opt to have total joint replacement surgery to be able to return to sports. Some strenuous sports activities have the potential to damage artificial joints.Are there permanent restrictions after hip replacement?
Less chance of the hip coming out is only the beginning. This anterior hip is so much more stable that patients are no longer given restrictions after hip replacement. That’s right, no restrictions. After an anterior hip replacement you can do anything you want to.
Can you ski with hip replacement?
It is important to understand that you will need adequate time to recover from hip or knee replacement surgery. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t consider an activity such as skiing for at least three to six months after you have had the operation and, even then, you should be prepared to take it nice and easy.
Can you run marathon after hip replacement?
While many surgeons say no to resuming a running program after a total hip replacement, others say you can do so depending on the bone quality and the prosthetic materials used to replace the worn hip joint.
Can you lift weights after hip replacement?
Patients are often most surprised to learn that they are not only permitted to lift weights but are encouraged to lift weights after receiving a joint replacement. In fact, lifting weights is the best thing a patient can do for the prolonged life of their artificial joint.Can you live a normal life after hip replacement?
Around three months after your hip operation, most things will go back to normal, and the pain goes away for most people. You need to look out for signs of complications and continue being careful with how you move your hip. After 6 to 12 months, the recovery is considered complete.
Can you play golf after hip replacement?When Can I Return to Golf after a Hip Replacement? We advise golfing patients to return to chipping and putting at about 4 weeks and begin swinging/driving 4-8 weeks, and finally resume rounds of golf between 8-12 weeks.
Article first time published onIs it OK to do squats after hip replacement?
“A hip withstands a bit more load [resistance/weight] and plyometric [jump training], explosive movements than a knee,” she continues. “Hips can, however, pop out of the joint if you attempt an extreme movement such as deep squats,” says Dr.
How painful is a hip replacement?
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
What happens at 4 months after hip replacement?
Researchers have previously shown that hip strength and muscle weakness persist up to 2 years after surgery. Based on the rapid recovery in the first 3 to 4 months, some patients may stop doing their exercises, which may limit their recovery and place them at risk for falls.
How long does it take to walk normally after a hip replacement?
Most hip replacement patients are able to walk within the same day or next day of surgery; most can resume normal routine activities within the first 3 to 6 weeks of their total hip replacement recovery.
Can you ever bend over after hip replacement?
When Can You Bend Past 90 Degrees After Hip Replacement? You should not bend your hip beyond 60 to 90 degrees for the first six to 12 weeks after surgery. Do not cross your legs or ankles, either. It’s best to avoid bending to pick things up during this period.
How long does it take to fully recover from a hip replacement?
Within 12 weeks following surgery, many patients will resume their recreational activities, such as talking long walk, cycling, or playing golf. It may take some patients up to 6 months to completely recover following a hip replacement.
Is it OK to jog with an artificial hip?
Clinical guidelines and most surgeons advise patients who have undergone total hip or knee replacements to avoid high-impact activities like running. The harder patients are on the devices, made of metal and plastic, the sooner they’ll need risky and often less successful revision surgery, most say.
Can you ride bike after hip replacement?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend cycling on a level surface as a good recovery exercise once the patient has resumed normal activities, but there are a some cautionary factors to be considered first: 1.
How long does a hip replacement last?
95% of hip replacements last at least 10 years, about 75% last 15 to 20 years, and just over half last 25 years or more. To help keep your artificial hip in good shape longer, stay active but avoid high-impact activities, and stay at a healthy weight.
Can I ice skate after hip replacement?
To summarize, it is possible to continue your on-ice hockey activities after a total hip replacement. However, there is likely a small increased risk of prosthesis failure that increases with the amount of contact you experience in your league.
Can you skate after a hip replacement?
Skating, skiing, and snowboarding They involve intense physical activity and come with a higher risk of wear and tear-and injury than low-impact activities like walking or swimming. So, in general, ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding are not recommended for joint replacement patients.
How can I ski with bad hips?
Make sure you flex your ankles and knees to pressure the front of your ski boot rather than lean against the back cuff of your boot. This not only takes the strain off your quads and hip flexors, but also allows you to better control your skis and turns.
Can I go back to work 2 weeks after hip replacement?
“Ninety-four percent of patients returned to their job without any restriction, even among the people who did heavy manual labor,” Nunley says. “Most people can go back to a sedentary job in six to eight weeks. For manual labor, it’s more like eight to 12 weeks.”
Can I kneel after hip replacement?
After a hip replacement many patients can kneel down after completing the precautionary period of three months. The safe way to do this is to perform a single-legged kneel whereby the patient kneels on the knee of the operated side only. This means that the other hip has to bend whilst the operated hip stays extended.
Is second hip replacement easier?
The procedure is technically more difficult than primary hip replacements and the effects on the patient are more significant (longer surgery, more blood loss). Because of this, revision hip replacement must be carefully considered and planned.
Can I workout upper body after hip surgery?
“Usually, patients are safe to continue exercising their uninvolved body parts,” Marcus says. “This can mean working out their core and arms in the event of a leg injury or switching from walking and running to biking to decrease weight bearing.
How do you build muscle after hip replacement?
- Ankle pumps. …
- Thigh squeezes (quadriceps sets) …
- Buttock squeezes (gluteal sets) …
- Heel slides (hip and knee flexion) …
- Leg slides (abduction/adduction) …
- Lying kicks (short arc quadriceps) …
- Straight leg raises. …
- Sitting kicks (long arc quadriceps)
How long does it take for bone to grow into hip replacement?
If the prosthesis is not cemented into place, it is necessary to allow four to six weeks (for the femur bone to “grow into” the implant) before the hip joint is able to bear full weight and walking without crutches is possible.
Can you ever cross your legs after hip replacement?
You shouldn’t cross your legs or, if you’ve had a total hip replacement, you should not roll the surgical leg inward or outward. DO NOT pivot on your affected leg. If you need to turn while walking, fully stop and lift your foot to change direction. DO wear supportive shoes with rubber soles.
Can you climb stairs after a hip replacement?
Yes. Initially, you will lead with your operated leg when coming down. As your muscles get stronger and your motion improves, you will be able to perform stairs in a more normal fashion (usually in about a month).
Can I sit on floor after hip replacement?
With a conventional hip replacement patients are able to sit on a chair but are advised to avoid sitting on a low chair, squatting and sitting cross-legged on the floor (Indian style sitting).