Let the Rehab Begin

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the recovery process after arthroscopic hip surgery.

Most post-surgical patients typically begin some form of PT the day after the procedure – at home, on their own – with the use of an ice machine (I used a rented Game Ready) or ice packs, if preferred, and through a CPM machine (short for continuous passive motion), also rented. Icing helps reduce inflammation and pain, while the CPM slowly moves the hip joint for you, preventing stiffness and scar tissue from developing. The general regimen for the first week: icing 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off, with the CPM in between. (Frequent icings should continue for the next couple of weeks or so.)

And those who feel up to it are also permitted to ride a stationary bike within the first few days, with all the resistance off, for up to 10 minutes at a time.

But the serious physical therapy – that is, with a physical therapist – doesn’t begin until  after the stitches are removed, usually between Day 10 and 14. Mine was this weekend.

There is usually a specific protocol to follow after hip arthroscopy. My protocol was developed by the Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery.  It is broken into four phases that span a 16-week period.

So, let’s begin with Phase 1 (From Day 1 to Week 6). The emphasis here is on “protecting surgical site, minimizing pain and inflammation and patient compliance with activity modification.” In other words: make sure the patient  –moi – doesn’t overdo it and mess up the surgery. 

My PT session began by filling out an evaluation form that included questions like these: Can you get in and out of a car without much difficult. Um, sometimes. Stand for an hour without difficulty? Nope. Walk a mile without difficulty? You must be kidding!

Then came the evaluation with the therapist, who tested my range of motion and discussed the protocol and main goal after six weeks, which is to have 75 percent range of motion. “You’re almost there already,” he said.

The therapy began with 15 minutes of heating the area, followed by 10 minutes on a recumbent exercise bike and a series of isometric exercises, a type of strength training done in static positions.

Here’s one example: gluteus, or butt, strengthening.  Lie on your stomach with hips over a pillow and squeeze your buttocks together, holding each contraction for 5 seconds, for 30 reps. It’ll look like this:

HSS

The session ended almost two hours later with 15 minutes of icing and the electronic stimulat0r, or “stim,” machine.

Ahhhhhhh!

UPDATE: In my second PT session on Monday I was told that I am already at 75 percent range of motion.