When can I sleep normally and get in a car after hip replacement?

Sleeping position and car entry may be adjusted early, especially with a posterior approach. Most patients return to normal sleep and easy car entry over the first several weeks as precautions lift.

When can I return to golf, hiking, or tennis after hip replacement?

Low-impact activities generally return over the first few months as strength builds. Most surgeons encourage low-impact recreation and steer away from running and jumping sports to protect the implant.

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Recovery Guide · Joint Replacement

Mako Hip Replacement Recovery Guide

Q: Do I have to follow hip precautions after hip replacement?

It depends on the surgical approach. Posterior approaches usually come with specific positions to avoid early on; anterior approaches often have fewer restrictions. Follow the surgeon's specific instructions.

By Dr. Shayne Kelly, DO — Fellowship-Trained Sports Medicine Surgeon · Tri-City Orthopedics, Kennewick, WA

For patients recovering from total hip replacement — including Mako robotic-assisted — what the first weeks are for, the precautions that matter, and how your hip gets back to the life you want.

Educational information, not medical advice. This is not a substitute for the specific instructions Dr. Kelly and your physical therapist give you. Your timeline depends on your surgery, your body, and your progress. Follow your own care team's directions. In an emergency, call 911.

The short version

Hip replacement is often a faster comeback than people expect. Most patients are walking the same day, back to most everyday activities by around 6 to 12 weeks, and continuing to feel better for up to a year. Recovery is criteria-based, not calendar-based — you progress as your hip earns it.

One thing that shapes your early recovery more than the robot: the surgical approach. Anterior and posterior approaches come with different early movement precautions — which positions to favor or avoid — and your surgeon's instructions are specific to yours. Whether your replacement used Mako robotic assistance or conventional instruments, the recovery roadmap is essentially the same. The phases below are typical ranges, not promises; and if your surgery was with a different surgeon, your protocol may look different — that is completely fine. Follow your own surgeon's plan.

Phase-by-phase: what recovery actually looks like

Tap each phase to expand it. You advance when you hit the milestones — not when the calendar says so.

Phase 1 · Weeks 0–2 — Protect & get moving

Goals

Get up and walking the same day with a walker, per your team
Follow your approach-specific hip precautions exactly
Manage pain and swelling; protect the new joint

Milestones to hit

Walking short distances with your aid
Getting in and out of a bed, chair, and car safely
Doing your home exercises daily

Sample PT-guided work

Ankle pumps, glute and quad sets, gentle assisted motion
Supported standing and walking; safe transfer technique

Precautions

Hip precautions depend on your approach — posterior approaches typically avoid certain deep-bend and rotation positions; anterior approaches often have fewer restrictions. Follow the specific instructions your surgeon gives you
Blood-clot awareness — do your ankle pumps and take any prescribed prevention as directed

Phase 2 · Weeks 2–6 — Wean aids & normalize walking

Goals

Progress from walker to cane to walking unaided, per your team
Normalize your walking pattern; return to most home activities

Milestones to hit

Walking without an aid on level ground
Stairs with a rail
Steadily decreasing pain and swelling

Sample PT-guided work

Standing hip strengthening; balance and gait retraining
Stationary bike as your team allows

Precautions

Driving returns when you are off narcotic pain medication and can move safely — your surgeon gives the go-ahead
Continue any remaining approach-specific precautions until released

Phase 3 · Weeks 6–12 — Strength & endurance

Goals

Rebuild hip and leg strength; build walking endurance
Move confidently on stairs, slopes, and uneven ground

Milestones to hit

Walking longer distances without a limp
Most daily tasks back to normal
Many precautions lifted once your surgeon clears you

Sample PT-guided work

Progressive hip and core strengthening
Bike, elliptical, and pool work for conditioning

Precautions

Some swelling and activity-related aching can persist for months — that is normal healing

Phase 4 · Months 3–12 — Return to activity

Goals

Return to the activities you value — walking, golf, cycling, swimming, hiking, doubles tennis
Keep building strength; the hip continues to improve for up to a year

Milestones to hit

Comfortable with daily and recreational activities
Strength and endurance steadily improving

Sample PT-guided work

Activity-specific conditioning; long-term low-impact fitness

Precautions

Most surgeons steer replacement patients toward low-impact activity and away from running and jumping sports to protect the implant — Dr. Kelly will give you activity guidance for your hip

Curious what the robot actually contributes? As with the knee, robotic assistance is about implant-placement precision, not a different recovery. The roadmap above applies to robotic and conventional hip replacement alike — your approach and your rehab shape your comeback more than the technology.

When to call the office — do not wait

Call Tri-City Orthopedics at (509) 460-5588 right away if you notice any of these:

Signs of infection: fever over 101°F, spreading redness, increasing warmth, or drainage from the incision
Possible blood clot: calf pain or tenderness, new swelling in the calf — and call 911 for chest pain or trouble breathing
Signs of a dislocation: sudden severe hip pain with the leg looking shortened or rotated, or an inability to move or bear weight — seek care immediately
Pain or swelling that is getting worse instead of better, or new numbness that does not resolve

In an emergency, call 911 first.

Take this guide with you

Print this guide or scan to reopen it on your phone. Dr. Kelly can hand this page to you in clinic — the QR code brings you right back here.

Print this guide

Common questions

Do I have to follow hip precautions?

It depends on your surgical approach. Posterior approaches usually come with specific positions to avoid early on; anterior approaches often have fewer restrictions. Your surgeon's instructions are specific to your surgery — follow those exactly rather than general advice.

How long will I need a walker or cane?

Many patients use a walker briefly, move to a cane, and walk unaided somewhere around 2–6 weeks. Hip replacement often progresses a bit faster than knee replacement. Your team guides the pace.

When can I sleep normally and get in a car?

Sleeping position and car entry may be adjusted early, especially with a posterior approach — your therapist will show you safe techniques. Most patients return to normal sleep and easy car entry over the first several weeks as precautions lift.

When can I get back to golf, hiking, or tennis?

Low-impact activities generally return over the first few months as strength and confidence build. Dr. Kelly will give you activity guidance for your hip — most surgeons encourage low-impact recreation and steer away from running and jumping sports to protect the implant.

Does robotic (Mako) assistance change hip recovery?

The recovery roadmap is essentially the same for robotic and conventional hip replacement. Robotic assistance is about implant-placement precision; your approach and your rehab effort shape your comeback more than the technology.

Questions about your recovery?

Schedule a follow-up with Dr. Kelly at Tri-City Orthopedics.

Schedule at Tri-City Orthopedics

Or call the office: (509) 460-5588