(HealthDay News) -- If you're among the millions of people who have had hip replacement surgery, there are some do's and don'ts until you fully recover.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests:
- For at least six weeks, don't sit with your legs crossed. Keep the legs in a forward-facing position
- Don't raise your knee higher than your hip. Sit with the leg in front of you.
- While seated, don't lean forward or stretch to get something off the floor. Kneel down on the knee that's on the side that was operated on.
- While bending down, don't turn your feet to an extreme inward or outward position. Also, don't bend at the waist more than 90 degrees.
- While in bed, don't reach to grab the blankets.
- Manage pain by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel.
- Apply heat for about 20 minutes before exercise. If exercising is painful, reduce the length of your session, but don't stop altogether.
