Prior to your scheduled hip surgery, you may have the opportunity to visit your physical therapist for a preoperative assessment. One purpose of this visit is to get a baseline of information that includes the location and severity of your pain, your functional abilities, and your strength and available motion of each hip. The preoperative visit is to prepare you for your upcoming surgery. Your therapist will go over some very important hip precautions for you to follow after your surgery. If the surgical site is from the back of the hip (posterior) the following precautions will be issued:

• Avoid crossing your legs (either in bed or seated).
• Avoid bending your hip greater than 90 degrees (as when seated upright or bending forward to tie your shoe).
• Avoid turning your foot inward.
• Keep a wedge or pillow between your knees while in bed to avoid crossing your legs.
• Lean back slightly when sitting to keep the hip from bending greater than 90 degrees.

Finally, an assessment will be made of any needs you'll have at home once you're released from the hospital. Your therapist will be scheduled to see you on the first day after your surgery to begin your rehabilitation program