• Arthritis
• Are You a Candidate for Hip Replacement? (Video)
• Are You a Candidate for Knee Replacement? (Video)

• Is Surgery Right for You?
  • What to Expect the Day of Surgery
  • What to Expect Following Surgery
  • Possible Complications of Surgery
  • What to Expect When You're Fully Recovered
  • Life After Joint Replacement

• Animation of Normal Knee
• Arthritis: The Leading Cause of Knee Pain
• Conventional Knee Replacement
• Animation of Knee Replacement
• Knee Replacement Surgery

• Hip Treatment Options
• Hip Replacement FAQ

• 10 Questions to Ask
• Standard Treatment Options
• You Don't Have to Live with Joint Pain
• What You Need to Know About Joint Replacement Surgery

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Home / What is Total Joint Replacement? / Is Surgery Right for You? /

Life After Total Joint Replacement

Total joint replacements of the hip, knee, and shoulder have been performed since the 1960s. Today, these procedures have been found to result in significant restoration of function and reduction of pain in 90% to 95% of patients.

However, joint replacement surgery will not allow patients to do more than they could before joint problems developed. Each patient's physician will recommend the most appropriate level of activity for the patient following joint replacement surgery.

In the weeks following total joint replacement, certain limitations are placed on every patient's activities. Using a cane or walker may be necessary for several weeks. Kneeling, bending, and jumping will likely be forbidden for the first month. It may be 6 weeks before driving is permitted. The orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist will provide specific recommendations.

When fully recovered, most patients can return to work, although some types of work — such as construction work, certain types of carpentry, and occupations that involve repeated or high climbing — may not be advisable for individuals with a joint replacement. Also, athletic activities that place excessive stress on the joint replacement, such as skiing, basketball, baseball, contact sports, distance running, and frequent jumping, should be avoided.

After joint replacement, a good rule of thumb is that acceptable physical activities should:

• Not cause pain, including pain felt later
• Not jar the joint, as happens with running or jumping
• Not place the joint in the extremes of its range of motion
• Be pleasurable