Shifting Your Setup For Increased Mobility
Preparing for a total robotic hip replacement is an undertaking, but straightforward planning can create peace of mind for many patients. Increasing mobility post-surgery looks like having clear paths around the home, moving high-use kitchen items to countertops and installing safety measures in the bathroom. By pairing advancements in convenience with strategic planning, patients can recover quickly and easily within the comforts of home.
Preparing your home
With over 300,000 hip replacements per year, Americans pursue this procedure to improve overall quality of life by decreasing pain and increasing levels of mobility. To achieve these benefits, remove fall hazards throughout the home by removing clutter from pathways and walkways, making a walking path that a walker or wheelchair will fit through and picking up all throw rugs in walking or standing paths or using double-face tape to secure carpet edges. In addition, to capitalize on safety benefits, doctors suggest checking stair railings and walkway security aids to make sure the structures are secure, adding railings when necessary.
Making it easy for yourself
Doctors also recommend shifting everyday routines and motions to protect the body while still enjoying pain-free activities To ensure proper recovery. Concerning the kitchen, healthcare professionals suggest:
- Moving frequently used items to tabletop-height surfaces or to middle shelves
- Wearing clothing with pockets for carrying things around the house, leaving hands and arms free for balance
- Using a kitchen cart to move heavy, hot or bulky items
In addition to securing the kitchen, preparing and freezing a few hearty meals before surgery is essential. With healthy food and a secure home, patients raise the likelihood of a seamless recovery.
Staying safe through the recovery process
Recovery varies from person to person, depending on many factors, such as overall health and fitness levels before surgery. Falls or injuries during the recovery process can halt or hinder progress. To ensure a seamless recovery, doctors recommend installing proper safety measures in the bathroom, such as:
- Grab bars near the toilet, bathtub and shower
- A raised toilet seat or commode
- A hand-held showerhead
- A soap dispenser with liquid soap in the bathtub or shower as opposed to hand-held soap
With these safety measures in place, patients decrease the chances of a fall while increasing the likelihood of a quick recovery.
Empowering your recovery
Hip replacements are a routine procedure that drastically improves the lives of countless Americans. However, to achieve pain-free mobility post-surgery, patients must follow proper procedures to keep the home safe. By removing fall hazards, making sure heavy-use kitchen items are accessible and installing safety measures in the bathroom, patients can enjoy a quick, easy and mobile recovery.