For years, patients recovering from hip replacement surgery have been advised to follow strict hip precautions to protect their new joint and avoid complications. These precautions often include avoiding certain movements and using specialised equipment to prevent dislocation. However, recent research suggests that these precautions might not be necessary for all patients. So, are they still relevant in modern recovery? Let’s explore the evidence, the practicalities, and what this means for your rehabilitation.

What Are Hip Precautions?

Hip precautions are guidelines some hospitals provide to reduce the risk of dislocating your new hip joint during recovery. These typically include:

Avoid bending your hip more than 90°: No deep squats, bending fully forward, or using low chairs and toilets where your hips drop below knee level.
Avoid twisting your hip: No swivelling on the ball of your foot.
Avoid crossing your legs: This applies while sitting, standing, or lying down.

What Do Hip Precautions Mean in Daily Life?

Sitting: Use chairs or sofas that keep your hips higher than your knees.
Sleeping: You may need a higher bed and might initially find it more comfortable to sleep on your back to avoid pressure on your wound.
Toileting: A raised toilet seat and frame can make sitting and standing easier.
Washing: Long-handled sponges may help you wash areas that are hard to reach.
Dressing: Long-handled aids, such as sock aids and shoehorns, can help you dress without bending over.
Reaching: A grabber can help you pick up items from the floor.

Example image illustrating how hip precautions work in sitting

While these precautions aim to protect your hip during the critical early weeks, they can significantly limit independence and impact daily routines.

Are Hip Precautions Still Necessary?

The need for hip precautions has been the subject of debate in recent years. Whether they are necessary depends on several factors:

1. Surgical Technique

Anterior Approach: This technique involves accessing the hip from the front, preserving muscles and soft tissue, and reducing the risk of dislocation. Patients who have this approach typically don’t need to follow hip precautions.
Posterior or Lateral Approach: These traditional methods may increase the risk of dislocation due to the muscles and soft tissues affected. In such cases, caution with certain movements is advised during the initial weeks of recovery.

2. Prosthetic Advances

Improvements in prosthetic design, including larger femoral heads and better positioning, have made hip joints more stable. This reduces the likelihood of dislocation and lessens the need for strict precautions.

3. Patient-Specific Factors

Certain patients, such as those with complex medical histories, obesity, or muscle weakness, may still benefit from precautions. However, for most patients, modern surgical techniques and prosthetic stability make these restrictions less relevant.

What Does the Research Say?

A pivotal study conducted by the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) team challenges the necessity of traditional hip precautions. The team reviewed the records of nearly 230,000 hip replacement patients in England between 2011 and 2019. Their findings include:

No Difference in Dislocation Rates: Patients who didn’t follow hip precautions were no more likely to experience dislocation than those who did. Dislocation rates remained at 0.8% in both groups.
Faster Recovery: Patients in hospitals that phased out hip precautions had a shorter average length of stay (LoS) in hospital, reducing from four days to three.
No Increase in Readmissions: The absence of precautions did not result in higher rates of emergency readmissions within the first month after surgery.

This evidence supports a shift away from routine precautions as part of enhanced recovery pathways.

The Orthophysio Take on Hip Precautions

At Orthophysio, we recommend following a balanced approach:

Follow Your Hospital’s Guidance: If your surgical team advises precautions, adhere to them, especially in the first few weeks.
Anterior Approach Patients: Generally, unless advised you don’t need to follow hip precautions. Focus on your recovery with guided physiotherapy to build strength and mobility.
Posterior or Lateral Approach Patients: Be cautious with movements such as deep bending, twisting, or crossing your legs in the first few weeks. Use this time to progress with a structured physiotherapy programme, such as the Orthophysio Hip replacement Guide.
Gradually Resume Normal Activities: As you gain strength and confidence, and once you're mobilising unaided, you can safely ignore the precautions. Read more about how to recover back to normality here.
Ask your Physiotherapy team questions: As your team if you’re allowed to do a certain movement, we offer free physiotherapy appointments to our hip replacement guide users throughout their recovery.

Book a Free Physiotherapy Assessment

Benefits of Moving Beyond Precautions

For patients, moving away from strict hip precautions can result in:

Faster Recovery: Less time spent adjusting to restrictions means quicker functional improvement.
Improved Mobility: Greater freedom to move early on can enhance strength and flexibility.
Higher Satisfaction: Patients often feel more confident and less restricted in their recovery.

In order to recover quickly in a timely fashion, some patients like structured rehabilitation. Get your free hip replacement rehabilitation guide at the end of this blog.

Modern Recovery: A Tailored Approach

Today, many orthopaedic teams adopt a more personalised approach to recovery, focusing on patient education and gradual rehabilitation rather than universal precautions.

At Orthophysio, we believe that recovery should be empowering. Whether or not your hospital recommends precautions, having the right guidance is essential to building strength, confidence, and mobility.

Image: Illustration of how a structured exercise programme with increased mobility can aid hip replacement recovery

The Orthophysio Hip Replacement Guide

Recovering from a hip replacement doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Our guide provides:

Over 40 exercises designed to enhance strength, flexibility, and stability.
Practical tips on mobility, sitting and walking without unnecessary restrictions.
Expert advice on managing pain, setting recovery goals, and returning to daily life confidently.

Download our Free Sample Guide today to get started on your recovery journey.

Free Hip Replacement Sample Guide

Full hip replacement guide

Related Blogs

Check out more recovery tips and expert insights:

How long does a hip or knee replacement last and how to maximise their lifespan?

At Orthophysio, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. With the right tools and support, you can recover stronger and more confidently than ever. 💪

Hip Precautions Are They Necessary? After Hip Replacement Surgery

When Can You Get Back to Driving After a Hip or Knee Replacement?

How Long Should You Exercise After a Hip or Knee Replacement—for Life?