Afternoon all my hippy friends!
On Friday I went for my first Physio session - actually walked in, no crutches!
Not sure what I was expecting, but it was a one to one session with a very nice lady. She moved both my legs around and said my mobility was very good. She then asked me to walk up and down the corridor for her, whilst she watched me. She commented that my operated leg was turning in slightly and that I had flat feet, particularly on the operated side.
She then had me on the couch again and asked me to do some buttock squeezes - well nothing happened, the muscles just were not moving! That she said was my problem that because my gluteal mucscles were not contracting, the muscles on my inner thighs were taking all the strain and pulling my legs inwards. This is what has been giving me the pain and soreness in those inner thigh muscles that I put a post on about recently. Because my gait was so poor pre op, my poor old gluteals were not doing their job which is to help us walk properly.
So lots of buttock squeezing for me till I see the physio again in 2 weeks time. I am pretty good at doing exercises, but this one is really hard work. You have to squeeze so hard to get even a liitle bit of contraction, that I almost stop breathing!
But, she says unless I get to grips with them I will never walk as well as I should and she said that it was the only exercise that would make any difference. I asked if static cycling would help, but she said, overall fitness yes, gluteals no! She did say that the seat of the bike needs to be level with top of pelvis or you can overflex the hip.
So guys and gals, get squeezing those gluteals to improve your gait - I thought I was walking quite well, but just shows what I know!
Hope you are all improving day by day - enjoy the rest of your weekend
Kind regards Linda xx
Dear Linda,
I am pleased thet your phisoptherapist spotted your problem and now there is a cure!!!! It' s an execise you can do through the day, anytime you are standing, and it will get easier...
Best of luck
Ella
Never been to physio. I was never sent a appointment. I got a booklet from the hospital and a graph to plan my exercises. I needed to google any excercises I need to do.
I did not physio after discharge, just told to do the exercises in the leaflet. My gait was horrible, my limp exhausting. Got my GP to refer me for physio which is making all the difference
By Pansycat
Im 8 weeks and when I went to see Physio about 2 weeks ago and she also told me to squeeze those gluteal. I am supposed to lie on bed feet together clench buttocks and then raise bum of bed and hold for five seconds x 10 times. I don't know why I don't like the exercise but I do squeeze when I remember. Seeing your post you can guess what I am doing whilst writing this!!!!
going for my last Physio visit tomorrow hoping she is going to be pleased with me and tell me I can do loads more.
I cant remember - how much post op are you?
good luck - keep squeezing xxxxz
It's great you got one positive feedback and advice on how to improve your gait. Like everyone else who has responded I haven't seen a physio. Had a 2 minute session after the op then told to follow the instruction in a booklet given to me pre-op. I have seen someone privately to help with my hip exercises and breathing which has been a big help. I will however get buttock cletching and will ask if I can see a physio. Hope things start to improve for you xx
Thanks or reminding me to squeeze and also do the "bridge' -- maybe the weird cramping o thigh muscles will go away --- it all makes sense, doesn't it
well Linda,you got us all squeezin'
warm hug
renee
That's how it went for me too, I've been activating my glutes at least twice a day with various exercises....did she get you to do crab walk? I can feel my gluteus contract now so am nearly squeezing my butt cheeks evenly.....I hope this will come in handy one day!!
Looks like we're all going to have lovely bottoms........
I have various exercises to do on a floor mat - for hip/knee flexion and abdominal strengthening.... as well as hip hike,.... and stuff with a large inflated exercise ball - a wall squat (with the ball behind my back againts wall) and sitting on it with one leg at a time lifted up, to improve lower abdominals.
Also have to lie down and put my feet on the ball, and lift up hips/back to make a bridge....
Hey linda,
What a useful physio - and a clear exercise I shall do more of!
and your bum will look soooo good after and draw lots of admiring looks i'm sure too!
mic
x
The hip hike is good for hip strengthening - keep your operated leg on the ground and 'hike up' the other (non-operated) leg. you have to keep your knee straight. see pics
you will feel the effect around your operated hip.
Good morning Neil. I am very aware and pretty keen on exercises pre and post op, so would like to know where you sourced your exercises from. Were they from the hospital or are you seeing a physio. If the latter is it via the NHS or private? I am still awaiting my op on 7 September, but want to be pre-armed on what I can ask for when the time comes.
Hi Carol
Wecome to our little group...great you've joined pre op for lots of support.
Just sharing re me and exercises. The hospital gave me an excellent booklet with exercises pre as well as post op for starters. Sadly no physio offered to me, but my PT at the gym has added to them, like the cat/swan stretch on the oor. Plus also a few from this forum too!
Have a nice day and good luck with the op.
Mic
X
Hi Carole
These were from a private physio - wasn't going to get any PT follow-up otherwise. I had 2 sessions with him in the week after I came out of hospital, 2 the following week, and one in each of the weeks after that... and will be going back to him in 10 days for a final sesh. The hospital physios who saw to me while I was in simply had me doing the 6 exercises 'in the book'.
Try and get as much as you can! I think it's actually slightly criminal to give people a new hip and then not have the post-op care to make sure that you get back to proper health (ie using it properly) - prevention better than cure etc.
Good luck with the op! I'm sure it'll be great
Neil
Hi NEIL
point well made...Our op costs £10 000 l understand, and 10 physio session would cost less than 10% of that. Silly lack of cost benefit thinking.
I also feel there is responsibility on us to do the exercises to 'bed in' our new hips! Otherwise it simply won't give us the benefits it should if muscles and tendons not built up.
Now..off to the gym!
Cheers
Mic
haha MIC 
Thanks
Yes you're right, it's our responsibility! You can lead a horse to water etc....
Pump those legs 
Neil
Linda, It sounds like you are doing so well, walking in with no crutches. Glad the physio helped you make walking easier with the glute exercise.
Funny how everyone's exercise program is different. I was given the gluteal exercise in the hospital. Yet you seem to be doing many more other kinds of exericise that I was not given.
It would be good to know what exercises other hippies are doing and at what stage. I know we need to do what we have been told but if there are some exercises that others are doing that really help, we could mention them to our own physio to see if we can add them,
Wishing you continued success.
warm hugs
Jeanne
My mum treated me to my hip as a Christmas pressie and I cost her £12,000
so you are right we must make as much effort to get it right as we can.
thanks for pics Neil I will be giving it a go!