Homepro Medical Supplies

When it comes to mottos to live your life by, the Boy Scouts of America got it right with “Be Prepared.” This motto is definitely applicable to those facing surgery, specifically hip surgery. As we detailed in our previous blog post, there are numerous pre- and post-op items to be aware of.

In today’s post, we’re going over the medical equipment available from Homepro Medical Supplies that can help reduce pain, promote independence and ensure your body heals correctly after your hip surgery.

Physical Limitations of Post-Hip Surgery Patients

Those who have recently had hip replacement surgery face a certain set of physical limitations in order to ensure their body recovers and repairs itself correctly.

Most importantly, the ability to bend at the hip is restricted, and should be in order for the hip to heal correctly. Hip replacement patients shouldn’t bend their hip more than at a 90-degree angle, as this puts more stress on the joint. The more stress put on the joint, the harder it is for the body to heal.

Hip replacement patients also face balance and unsteadiness when moving around. This is most likely from the physical impact of the surgery, but can also be a side effect of medications being taken for pain, blood clots or other issues associated with the surgery. 

How a Hip Chair can Help

Hip chairs focus on reducing the amount of hip flexion necessary for sitting down and standing up. They are elevated in order to eliminate the need to flex the hip when getting up or down. The addition of a low back, armrests and footrests requires less force to be used to sit or stand, which in turn translates into less stress on the hip joint.

This differs from traditional low chairs or couches. When you are sitting in one of these seats and want to stand, what do you do? You lean forward. However, this is exactly what you don’t want if you have just had hip replacement surgery. By leaning forward, you reduce the angle and force your hips to “pull” you out of a seated position. This can result in the newly implanted hip being pulled out of the socket.

This makes hip chairs an essential piece of medical equipment for those who have just had hip surgery. There are also a few accessories that can help in your recovery as well.

Additional Equipment that can Make Your Recovery Easier

Mobility, flexibility and balance are huge hurdles hip surgery patients have to get over. Luckily, Homepro Medical Supplies offers numerous items to help recovery from surgery be more efficient and less painful.

• Reacher– the last thing you want to do is strain your hip in any way. A reacher allows you to get to items that would normally be out of reach without hurting yourself while promoting independence.
• Flexible Sock Aid– relieve the stress on your hip and keep from bending over while putting your socks on by yourself.
• Hip Surgery Cushion- designed with high density foam, it provides more comfort by taking pressure off of your hip when sitting in any kind of chair. It also features a travel strap for easy transportation wherever you go.
• Raised Toilet Seat- take the danger and pain out of using the bathroom during your recovery. The elevated seat creates less stress on your hip and allows you to expend less effort on sitting and standing.
• Bath seat- stay safe and secure in the shower by sitting down instead of trying to do a balancing act on the slick shower floor
• Walker- a walker offers much needed support and stability as you try to be more active in your recovery.
• Canes– from standard and heavy duty canes to tri-canes and quad canes, these provide additional support and stability as you move around.
• Handheld showers– a handheld shower saves you from all the moving and turning while on the slick surface of your shower, making it safer.
• Grab bar- you can never have too much support when recovering from hip surgery, and grab bars offer a secure place to steady yourself. 

We also offer a 7-Piece Hip Kit Set that includes a reacher, long handle bath sponge, 24” shoehorn, sock aid, dressing stick, and 2 pairs of elastic shoelaces.

Regardless of how little or much help you need in your recovery from hip replacement, there is medical equipment that can help. Visit the Hip Chair Rental page on our website to see about renting a hip chair for your recovery and learn more about the additional supplies that can help you in your recovery.