Hip Replacement Rehabilitation in West Los Angeles
We provide specialized physical therapy for patients recovering from total and partial hip replacement surgery throughout West Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Hip replacement rehabilitation requires a careful, structured approach, moving too slowly can lead to stiffness and weakness that’s hard to reverse, while moving too quickly without proper guidance can put the new joint at risk. The therapy team has extensive experience guiding patients through each phase of hip replacement recovery, from the first days after surgery through full return to daily activities.
Our goal is to help you reduce pain, restore full strength and mobility, and safely return to walking, climbing stairs, driving, and the activities you enjoy, with confidence in your new hip. We work closely with your surgeon’s protocol and build a personalized plan around your specific procedure, fitness level, and recovery goals.
What to Expect After Hip Replacement
Your first physical therapy session typically begins within the first few days after surgery, either in the hospital or shortly after discharge. Early movement is essential for preventing stiffness, reducing swelling, and beginning the process of rebuilding strength.
In the early weeks, treatment focuses on safe mobility, gentle range of motion, and learning how to move in ways that protect the new joint. As you progress, the emphasis shifts to building strength, improving walking mechanics, and restoring the function needed for daily activities.
Full recovery from hip replacement typically takes three to six months, depending on your age, fitness level, and the specific procedure performed. We track your progress closely throughout and adjust your plan at each stage.
How We Help You Recover
Our hip replacement rehabilitation program is built around your surgeon’s protocol and your individual recovery progress. Treatment is hands on, one-on-one, and focused on measurable milestones.
Treatment may include:
- Early mobility and safe range of motion exercises
- Gait training and walking mechanics correction
- Strengthening the glutes, hip flexors, and leg muscles
- Balance and stability training
- Swelling and pain management techniques
- Stair training and functional movement practice
- Progressive return to daily activities and exercise
We also provide guidance on home exercises, activity modifications, and what to watch for during each phase of your recovery.
Phases of Hip Replacement Recovery
Recovery from hip replacement happens in distinct phases, each with specific goals and milestones.
- Weeks 1–2: Pain and swelling management, safe mobility, basic exercises, walking with assistive device
- Weeks 3–6: Increasing range of motion, progressive strengthening, reducing reliance on assistive device
- Weeks 6–12: Advanced strengthening, balance training, return to driving and light activities
- Months 3–6: Full functional return, recreational activities, long-term strength and stability
Every patient progresses at a different pace. Our goal is to keep you moving forward safely — never rushing, never stalling.
When to Start Physical Therapy
Physical therapy should begin as soon as possible after hip replacement surgery, ideally within the first one to two days. Early rehabilitation has been shown to reduce complications, shorten recovery time, and improve long-term outcomes.
If you are preparing for surgery, we also offer pre-surgical physical therapy (“prehab”) to build strength before your procedure — patients who are stronger going into surgery tend to recover faster coming out of it.
We coordinate directly with your surgeon’s timeline and protocol to ensure your rehabilitation plan aligns with your medical care from day one.
Our Goal
Our goal is to help you recover as fully and efficiently as possible from hip replacement surgery — reducing pain, restoring mobility, and rebuilding the strength needed to get back to the life you had before your hip was limiting you.
As your physical therapist in West Los Angeles, we provide one-on-one care at every session — the same therapist who knows your case, your progress, and your goals, from your first visit through your last.