I am going on holiday soon and really looking forward to swimming every day. Only stroke I enjoy is breaststroke. I have been given no advice from surgeon or health care staff but have read on here and other places that we shouldn't do it after THR or in earlier stages. I will be 11 weeks post op when I get there.
I have come across a study that says that 100% of surgeons they contacted said it was ok as soon as wound was healed enough. Health care people only 17% said it was ok. They did research and couldn't find one dislocation resulting from swimming breaststroke. Their conclusion was that the muscles this stroke uses were the very ones we need strengthening and therefore this stroke should actually be encouraged not discouraged.
Would like to hear what fellow hippies:
1. have been told by and by who
2. have done when they've gone swimming.
Just interested in others views.
Sandra
I look forward to learning more about this, too!
Hi Sandra glad your doing so well and hope your going somewhere warm, really the best person to ask would be your surgeon, he will be best one to answer that question, I do know that physio usually advise not until your past a certain stage.
Breast stroke arms and crawl legs is what I was advised
I never thought of using combined strokes. I am not seeing surgeon til I come back but may try and call his secretary before I go. Yes going somewhere warm for 2 weeks to just chill and walk/swim off the food and drink which will be consumed.
Thanks for your answer. I'm the sort of person who would probably try it albeit gently but last thing I need is ending up in foreign hospital! !!!
If you do do it just be very aware if you develope groin pain afterwards. If you get even a twinge of groin pain discontinue. You don't want to get iliopsoas tendonitis from the leg stroke. Just be aware of tenderness in the groin after swimming. Hopefully you'll be fine and have a wonderful holiday.
I was told not to and have also developed a breast arms and sort of crawl for the legs.
Hi Sandra - i am on hol now. I am nearly 8 weeks post bilateral THRs. My surgeon said yes but not too vigorously.
I have been swimming gentle breaststroke and been mindful of my frog kick - still doing it but gently. It has felt so good!!
I suggest asking your surgeon as they all have their own post op protocol.
Hope you have a lovely holiday. 😎
I was tiold could go but no breast stroke legs. I would do crawl legs but you also need to be careful getting in and out of pool. If you have not flown since THR you may also feel some pressure or pain around hip due to cabin pressure. Assume its short haul flight you are going on.
Good point re getting in and out of pool. I slowly go up/down the steps.
For flying - my consultant advised taking aspirin and wearing my TED stockings for the flight.
Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you have a lovely time, worse case scenario just use arms and think that your exercising any way. Take care
Dear Sandra,
My experiences were
Physios and consultant both said I could swim after 6 weeks after the wound had healed. But definitely not breast stroke legs!! The consultant told me I would die if I did!! I asked why , he said if you dislocate your hip while swimming you will die. !!Either crawl or doggy paddle legs. What they didn't tell me was when I could start breast stroke legs. I used my hip as a guide, so when it felt comfortable off I went. I think that was about 10 weeks post op. I also started Aquafit. To start with I struggled with some moves, but now at 14 weeks I can do everything
Hope this helps
Best wishes
Chris
I have 'shoes' that I can swim in with non slip soles but yes need to watch the steps. It's 4.5 hr flight. Surgeon knew I was going as he squeezed me higher up list so it would be done before and he never gave any precautions. I have an aisle seat right near front so planning to walk to loo at back a couple of times. Thanks for advice.
Sandra
That's what the study said about the frog kick, just to do it gently. I will try crawl legs but think I may automatically do the frog legs so good to know you've been ok. I was knocked down by car when I was 5yrs and that leg has always 'kicked out' in a funny way. I've been told this may be the reason this hip has deteriorated when other is ok. I would like to see if this behaves better now as that would confirm things for me.
Enjoy your hols
Sandra x
Hi Christine.
Did you do breaststroke legs at 10 weeks then? I am doing everything 'normal' now as have good mobility movement. Apart from the scar and lack of pain I wouldn't know I'd had the op. I had a quick chat with consultant at 6 weeks after I fell. Xray showed all ok and he said I could start to relax all restrictions. Never thought to ask him about swimming stroke.
Glad you are doing so well in your recovery.
Sandra
Thanks Sandra - you too. X
Sandra
I don't recall being given any advice re breast stroke but I just found it uncomfortable. (that was with my original THR) now I've had the revision I think I have more lateral movement than before but I've not tried swimming yet but will be interested to see how it feels.
I had thought I should persevere with crawl but I only ever swim on holiday so haven't bothered.
Good luck
Mike
Hi Sandra,
My therapists recommended water therapy (swimming and water exercises) as soon as the incision was healed. Swimming is a low impact activity that is really good for arthritis or joint replacements (once your limitations are removed of course!). The rule of thumb that they told me was just to listen to my body. If something doesn't feel right don't do it. Swimming is great for strengthening those little muscles (and the big ones) that we require daily for balance and normal functioning.
Just start off easy the first day and see how you feel the next.
After my first hip replacement I would do deep end laps. Just swimming around (with all different kinds of strokes) to help build muscle and get my ROM (range of motion) back. I had to wait longer then when my incision was closed however because I had my limitations (no twisting, crossing, etc.) until 3 months due to weight barring and my surgery particulars (bone grafts) and swimming would have definitely broken my limitations.
I also worked in shallow water (in a lake) after my second hip replacement to work out. There are lots of exercises that you can do (basically anything you do on land) in the water. Note: for the lake I had a small cut near my incision (my dog scratched me) so I put new skin over it so it didn't get dirty/infected. Just in case you have anything like that. It's good to keep it safe.
I hope you enjoy your holiday!!
Kaitlyn
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Dear Sandra
It was 10 weeks. It is weird doing breast stroke arms and doggy paddle legs - similar to patting your head and rubbing your tummy😊. I have been really afraid of the dislocation thing. Whilst the risk diminishes with time and muscle strength, my surgeon said the risk would be with me / us for life. Go with your body - I have dropped Zumba and the gym and mainly swim now, I feel it is more beneficial and gentler on the joint. Maybe in 6 months time I will try Zumba again
Best wishes for your hols and recovery
Chris
Hi Sandra, I like swimming, but I'm rubbish at crawl. At about 8 weeks I swam with breast stroke arms and crawl legs, but it wasn't particularly successful. Afterwards my hip was a bit achy, so I left it for a while.
I bumped into my surgeon at about 5 months the post op, and he said breaststroke swimming, with frog leg kick was fine. I started doing that from about 6 months, and now I swim regularly. It feels very comfortable. (Much better than pre op!)
Hope you have a great holiday, enjoy the sun! Where are you going?