All topics
- What it is
- Who it helps
- Timing
- The procedure
- What a hemiarthroplasty is
- Hemi vs total hip
- Recovery after hip fracture
- Patient journey
- Recovery supplies
- Finding a surgeon
- Insurance and costs
- Questions to ask
- Implant designs
- Side-by-side
- Robotics and navigation
- US manufacturers
- What the evidence says
- Value analysis
- Resources
- Glossary
- References
For patients and families
Recovery supplies
Practical things that make the first weeks at home safer and easier. Each category explains what to look for, so you can choose well whether or not you use the links here. Your hospital or therapist may supply some items, like a walker or a "hip kit," so check before you buy.
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Check with your care team first. Your surgeon's and therapist's instructions come before anything on this page.
Price guide: $ under $100 · $$ $100 to $600 · $$$ over $600. Rough ranges, checked November 2026. Prices change often.
Dressing and reaching aids
Bending to reach your feet is hard for the first weeks, and some surgeons ask you to avoid deep bending entirely. A "hip kit" of simple tools helps.17
What to look for- A reacher or grabber about 30 inches long
- A sock aid with long cords
- A long-handled shoe horn and elastic or slip-on laces
Practice with these before surgery. Ask your therapist which movements to avoid, if any.
Good for: Dressing without bendingHip kits (reacher, sock aid, shoe horn)
A bundled kit is often cheaper than buying each tool. Check that the reacher has a firm grip and a magnetic tip.
Good for: Putting on socksSock aids
Look for a flexible shell and long cord handles. A terry-cloth lining helps socks stay on.
Bathroom safety
Low toilets and stepping over a tub edge are among the hardest things in the first weeks, and falls are a real risk.
What to look for- A raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame with arms
- A shower chair or tub transfer bench
- Grab bars that screw into wall studs, not suction cups
- A long-handled sponge and non-slip mats
Have grab bars installed properly. Ask your therapist which bathroom aids you'll need.
Good for: The first weeks homeRaised toilet seats with arms
A seat that adds about 3 to 5 inches with sturdy arms makes sitting and standing much easier.
Good for: Bathing safelyTub transfer benches
Lets you sit outside the tub and slide across, so you don't have to step over the edge.
Seating and getting in and out of bed
Low, soft chairs are hard to get out of after hip surgery. A firm chair with arms is best.
What to look for- A firm cushion or chair riser to raise seat height
- A leg lifter strap to help move the leg in and out of bed
- A wedge cushion for the car seat, if your therapist suggests it
Avoid low sofas and recliners until your therapist says they're fine.
Good for: Lifting the leg in and out of bedLeg lifter straps
A rigid loop on a long strap lets you guide the operated leg with your arms.
Good for: Raising low chairsChair and furniture risers
Sturdy risers or a firm cushion bring a chair to a safer height.
Walker and mobility accessories
You'll use a walker or crutches at first. Small accessories make daily life easier while your hands are busy.46
What to look for- A walker bag or basket to carry small items
- A walker tray for carrying drinks or food
- Replacement glide caps for smoother movement
Your therapist should fit the walker height. Don't use a walker that wasn't adjusted for you.
Good for: Carrying things while using a walkerWalker bags and trays
Look for a bag that clips to both sides without blocking your steps.
Cold therapy and swelling
Some swelling and bruising in the thigh is normal after hip replacement. Ice and rest help.46
What to look for- Reusable gel packs large enough to cover the hip and thigh
- A wrap or belt that holds the pack in place
- A thin cloth barrier so ice never sits directly on skin
Follow your team's instructions on how long to ice, and keep the incision dressing dry.
Good for: Controlling swelling at homeHip ice wraps
A contoured gel pack with a waist strap stays in place on the hip. Always use a cloth layer between the pack and your skin.
Exercise at home
Your physical therapy exercises do most of the work. A stationary bike is a common next step once your therapist says you're ready, and simple resistance tools make the home program easier to stick with.
What to look for- A pedal exerciser you can use from a chair, for early, gentle motion
- Resistance bands and light ankle weights for your home program
- A recumbent or upright bike with an easy step-through frame and a wide range of seat adjustment
- Low starting resistance and smooth, quiet pedaling
If you were given hip precautions, keep the seat high enough that your hip stays above your knee, and ask before using a low recumbent bike. Start only when your surgeon or therapist says so.
Good for: Early motion from a chair $Under-desk pedal exercisers
Small, cheap and easy to start with. Look for a wide base that won't slide and adjustable tension.
Good for: Home program $Resistance bands and ankle weights
A set of looped bands in a few strengths plus adjustable ankle weights covers most therapy programs.
Good for: Steady cardio at home $$Recumbent exercise bikes
A back-supported seat and step-through frame make getting on and off safer. Check the seat adjusts far enough for your height.
Good for: Serious long-term training $$$Concept2 BikeErg
A durable upright bike with an accurate monitor and adjustable seat and handlebars. A big purchase, best for people who plan to keep riding after rehab.
Good for: Classes and motivation $$$Peloton Bike
Instructor-led classes can help some people keep riding. The upright position and clip-in pedals suit people further along in recovery, not the first weeks.
Cold therapy machines and compression
Beyond ice packs, there are machines that circulate ice water through a pad, some with pumped compression. A 2025 Cochrane review of 22 knee replacement trials found cold therapy may slightly reduce pain at 48 hours and blood loss, but the authors said the benefits may be too small to justify routine use.37 Adding compression helped pain and swelling a little more in the first few days, with no difference later.38 Studies are almost all in knees; the hip evidence is thinner.
What to look for- A pad shaped for the hip, with straps that hold it in place
- A quiet unit with a timer and temperature control
- Compression you can turn down or off
- Rental options for expensive units, since you'll mostly use it for a few weeks
Never put cold directly on skin. Follow the time limits in the instructions; long sessions can cause skin and nerve injury. Ask your surgeon before using compression over a fresh incision.
Good for: Cold and gentle compression, no power $$Aircast Cryo/Cuff
A cooler you lift to fill the cuff with ice water. Simple and cheaper than motorized units, but you refill it often.
Good for: Motorized cold at home $$Motorized cold therapy units
Pumps ice water through a hip pad for steady cold. Check the pad fits the hip specifically.
Good for: Cold plus active compression $$Breg Polar Care Wave
Combines motorized cold with adjustable compression, built for home use, with a hip pad available. Sold through medical suppliers.
Visit BregManufacturer site. Not an affiliate link. Good for: Clinic-grade cold and compression $$$Game Ready with hip/groin wrap
The system many clinics and pro teams use. Usually rented for a few weeks through a medical supplier rather than bought.
Muscle stimulation (e-stim)
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) makes a muscle contract using small pads on the skin. After knee replacement, a meta-analysis of 9 trials found it improved quadriceps strength, though many gains were too small to clearly matter day to day.35 For hips the evidence is weaker: before hip replacement, NMES didn't show a clear benefit in a 2026 network meta-analysis.36 It adds to your exercises; it doesn't replace them.
What to look for- An FDA-cleared device that offers NMES (muscle strengthening), not just TENS (pain relief)
- Strength programs strong enough to make the muscle visibly contract
- Clear pad-placement guides, or ask your therapist to show you placement
Don't use e-stim if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, over a fresh incision, or over broken skin. Ask your surgeon or therapist before starting.
Good for: Trying e-stim on a budget $Combination TENS and EMS units
Inexpensive handheld units. Fine for pain relief; many are too weak for real strengthening, so check the program list.
Good for: App-guided stimulation $$PowerDot (Therabody)
Small wireless pods controlled from a phone app with guided placement. Combines NMES and TENS programs.
Good for: Strength-focused stimulation $$Compex muscle stimulators
Over-the-counter, FDA-cleared stimulators with dedicated strength programs. Higher models get expensive.
Red light therapy
Red and near-infrared light (photobiomodulation) is popular, but the evidence after joint replacement is early. A 2026 systematic review found only four small trials, 133 patients in total, with promising short-term effects on pain and swelling but not enough to be conclusive.39 Most of those trials used clinic lasers, not the LED wraps and panels sold for home use.
What to look for- An FDA-cleared device with stated wavelengths (often around 660 nm red and 800 to 850 nm near-infrared)
- A wrap that fits around the hip, rather than a small handheld wand
- A return window, since results vary
Treat this as an optional extra, not part of your recovery plan. Keep it off the fresh incision until it has healed, and check with your surgeon first.
Good for: Trying it affordably $$Red light therapy hip wraps
LED wraps with red and near-infrared light. Check the wavelengths and FDA status in the listing.
Good for: Premium targeted device $$Kineon MOVE+ Pro
A wearable with red LEDs and near-infrared lasers, designed for joints. More powerful and more expensive than most LED wraps.
Braces and supports
Most people don't need a brace after a routine hip replacement. Hip braces are sometimes prescribed after a dislocation or in other higher-risk situations, and high-quality evidence for routine bracing is sparse.40 Compression shorts can feel supportive once the incision has healed.
What to look for- Only a brace your surgeon prescribes and fits, if you need one
- Breathable compression shorts in the right size, for comfort later on
Don't wear anything tight over a healing incision. Stop if you notice numbness, tingling or more swelling below the brace.
Good for: Comfort once healed $Compression shorts
Light, even compression around the hip and thigh. Wait until your incision has fully healed.
Sources for this page
- Smith TO, et al. Assistive devices, hip precautions, environmental modifications and training to prevent dislocation and improve function after hip arthroplasty. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;7(7):CD010815. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010815.pub2
- Peng L, et al. Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:779019. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.779019
- van der Vorst MAT, et al. Effectiveness of prehabilitation modalities before total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2026;69(4):102114. doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2026.102114
- Aggarwal A, et al. Cryotherapy following total knee replacement. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025;10(10):CD007911. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007911.pub4
- Song M, et al. Compressive cryotherapy versus cryotherapy alone in patients undergoing knee surgery: a meta-analysis. Springerplus. 2016;5(1):1074. doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2690-7
- Eladl HM, et al. Systematic review on the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy on enhancing musculoskeletal rehabilitation outcomes after total knee and hip arthroplasty. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2026;44(10):597-605. doi:10.1177/25785478261475529
- Kemker BP, et al. Hip and knee bracing: categorization, treatment algorithm, and systematic review. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2021;5(6):e20.00181. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-20-00181
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Total hip replacement. orthoinfo.org/bodypart/hip-thigh/total-hip-replacement
All references