Daily life guide
Driving after hip replacement: when is it safe?
Getting back behind the wheel is a big step toward independence. Here's what the research on braking shows and how to decide when you're ready.
The short answer
- Across studies, braking reaction time returned to its pre-surgery level by about six weeks.29
- Recommendations in the literature average about four and a half weeks.29
- After a left hip replacement in an automatic car, braking may recover sooner, in some studies within about a week.30
- Never drive while taking opioid pain medicine, and check your insurance and your surgeon's advice first.
What the research shows
A 2023 meta-analysis of driving studies after hip replacement found that braking reaction time was around or above pre-surgery levels in the first three weeks and back below baseline by six weeks. Patients in the included studies reported returning to driving after about 33 days on average, with a wide range.29
A broader review found braking returned to pre-surgery norms about four weeks after right-sided hip replacement and about one week after left-sided hip replacement. People reported returning to driving anywhere from six days to three months after surgery.30
Before you drive, check that you can:
- Get in and out of the car comfortably
- Press the brake hard and fast without pain
- Turn to check blind spots
- Drive without opioid pain medicine
- Get your surgeon's okay, and check your car insurance
Start with a short trip in a quiet area with another driver along.
Sources
- Patel PV, et al. Doctor when can I drive? A systematic review and meta-analysis of return to driving after total hip arthroplasty. Hip Int. 2023;33(1):17-27. doi:10.1177/1120700021998028
- DiSilvestro KJ, et al. When can I drive after orthopaedic surgery? A systematic review. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2016;474(12):2557-2570. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-5007-9