Most of the recovery after a total hip replacement happens in the first 2 months, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and full recovery continues over the next year. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says most people can resume light daily activities within 3 to 6 weeks. Your own timeline depends on your surgeon, the surgical approach and your general health, not on age alone.
How long does hip replacement recovery take, week by week?
The sources give ranges, not promises, and your surgeon and therapist decide what is safe for you. This table covers a planned total hip replacement and draws on AAOS OrthoInfo and NIAMS.
| Stage | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Hospital | A stay of 1 to 2 days, or home the same day after outpatient surgery. Before leaving you should manage bed, walking with an aid and two or three stairs |
| Rehab or skilled nursing facility | Possible if those goals are not met or no one can help at home |
| First 2 weeks | Dressings often stay on 7 to 10 days; stitches or staples come out around 2 weeks. Expect to need help with cooking, shopping, bathing and laundry |
| Weeks 3 to 6 | Most normal light activities return in 3 to 6 weeks; precautions usually last about the first 6 weeks |
| About 2 months | Much of the recovery has happened; keep doing therapist-prescribed exercises for at least 2 months |
| 3 to 6 months | Mild to moderate swelling can last 3 to 6 months; activity may be limited for several months if the implant relies on bone growth |
| Up to 1 year | Full recovery continues as you get stronger over the next year |
Is hip replacement recovery different at 70?
Age is not a barrier by itself. AAOS states that there are no absolute age or weight restrictions for total hip replacement and that the recommendation rests on pain and disability, not age. Most patients are 50 to 80 years old, and surgeons evaluate each person individually.
What changes the picture is overall health. NIAMS says recovery speed varies with general health and fitness before surgery, and AAOS notes that chronic illnesses may raise the chance of complications. Serious complications such as joint infection occur in fewer than 2% of patients. Neither source gives a separate week-by-week schedule for 70-year-olds, so ask the surgeon what to expect for you.
What if the surgery followed a hip fracture?
A fracture is a different start. AAOS reports that more than 300,000 people in the U.S. break a hip each year, most of them 65 or older after a fall. Surgery within 24 to 48 hours may reduce complications, and most patients are out of bed with physical therapy the day after, which helps prevent clots, pneumonia and bed sores.
Many patients go home, while some need short-term care in a rehabilitation facility, usually those who are older or have no caregiver at home. Those who go straight home get physical therapy at home until they can go to a clinic. After a hip replacement you can usually bear full weight right away; after other repairs the surgeon sets the limits. AAOS warns that older patients often need more help with daily life afterward. See the AAOS hip fractures page.
What are hip precautions, and do they apply to every patient?
Hip precautions are movement limits meant to keep the new joint from dislocating while tissue heals. They are not universal. AAOS says they vary by surgical approach, that not all surgeons recommend the same ones, and that they usually last about the first 6 weeks. Follow the list your surgeon and therapist give you. As orientation only, AAOS gives these common examples:
- Do not cross your legs at the knees.
- Do not bring the operated knee higher than the hip or bend at the waist past 90 degrees.
- Do not lean forward as you sit down, or reach for things on the floor from a chair.
How do you use a walker and a cane after hip surgery?
You start with a walker or crutches, and your surgeon or therapist says how much weight to put on the leg. AAOS says full weight may be allowed at once or delayed several weeks, depending on the type of replacement, and that they also decide when aids can stop.
- Moving to a cane. The AAOS exercise guide says a single cane or crutch can begin once you can walk and stand for more than 10 minutes and no longer carry weight on the walker. Hold it in the hand opposite the operated hip.
- Stairs. Use the handrail, take one step at a time, and go up with the good leg and down with the operated leg.
- Check the fit. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) advises having a therapist or provider confirm a borrowed walker or cane is the right size.
Medicare Part B lists canes, crutches, walkers and commode chairs among covered equipment; see Medicare coverage of walkers and wheelchairs.
How do you get in and out of bed, a chair and the car, and get dressed?
MedlinePlus lists these as general rules. Your surgeon’s rules come first.
- Chairs. Choose a firm chair with arms and a seat high enough that your hips are above your knees. Slide to the edge and push up with your arms or the walker.
- Bed. Do not sleep on the operated side or your stomach. If you sleep on the other side, put a pillow between your thighs.
- Car. Get in from street level, not a curb. Sit on a pillow if the seat is low, and stop to walk about every 2 hours on long rides.
- Dressing. Sit down to dress. Use a reacher, long-handled shoehorn, elastic laces and a sock aid. Put pants on the operated leg first.
- Bathroom. Use a shower chair or bench and a raised toilet seat.
AAOS adds that driving is usually safe again once opioid pain medicine has stopped and strength and reflexes have returned; the doctor decides. For the bathroom, see grab bars and walk-in tubs.
What can a home care aide help with, and what needs a nurse or therapist?
AAOS says people often need help for several weeks with cooking, shopping, bathing and laundry. The roles differ.
| Who | What they can help with |
|---|---|
| Surgeon | Sets precautions, weight-bearing limits, follow-up, and when aids can stop |
| Physical or occupational therapist | Teaches exercises, transfers, stairs, bathing and dressing; chooses walking aids |
| Home health or personal care aide | Walking with you as ordered, bed and chair transfers, bathing, dressing, meals, laundry, medication reminders, watching the incision and reporting changes to the nurse |
| Licensed nurse | Clinical tasks such as changing wound dressings and injections, and assessing a wound that looks infected, on a physician’s order |
The aide and nurse rows follow our post-surgery home care page. Our therapy at home page says home therapy is private pay or under contract with a certified home health agency. See also personal care services and nurse services.
How do you prevent falls and blood clots at home?
AAOS warns that a fall in the first weeks can damage a new hip and lead to more surgery, and that stairs are a particular hazard. Moving early also helps prevent clots, and a graduated walking program is part of home recovery.
For falls, AAOS and NIA suggest:
- Remove loose rugs and cords, and keep a clear path for the walker.
- Wear nonskid, low-heeled shoes, not slippers or socks.
- Tell the surgeon about any fall, even without pain.
For clots, AAOS says the surgeon outlines a prevention program that may include a blood thinner started in the hospital. Never start, stop or change a medicine on your own; ask the surgeon or pharmacist. Our guides on medication reconciliation after discharge and fall prevention in NYC apartments help with the home side.
Which signs mean you should call the surgeon or 911?
AAOS lists these warning signs. Tell the surgeon right away if you notice any of them.
| Possible problem | Signs listed by AAOS |
|---|---|
| Wound infection | Persistent fever above 100°F, chills, increasing redness, tenderness or swelling of the wound, drainage, increasing hip pain at rest and with activity |
| Blood clot in the leg | Calf or leg pain unrelated to the incision, tenderness or redness of the calf, new or increasing swelling of the thigh, calf, ankle or foot |
| Clot that reached the lung | Sudden shortness of breath, sudden chest pain, chest pain with coughing |
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says a lung clot needs medical treatment right away. Sudden breathlessness or chest pain is the kind of symptom where families should call 911 rather than wait for a callback. After a fall, NIA says to call 911 if you are hurt or cannot get up. Bacteria from dental work, urinary infections or skin infections can also reach the joint, so tell your dentist about the replacement and ask the surgeon whether you need antibiotics beforehand.
What do Medicare and Medicaid cover after a hip replacement?
| Setting | Original Medicare | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility | Part A; in 2026 $0 for days 1 to 20 after the $1,736 deductible (not charged again if already paid for the hospital stay in the same benefit period), $217 a day for days 21 to 100 | Inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row, entry generally within 30 days, daily skilled care |
| Inpatient rehabilitation | Part A; $0 for days 1 to 60 after the deductible, $434 a day for days 61 to 90 | A provider certifies you need intensive rehabilitation |
| Home health | $0 for nursing, physical and occupational therapy; an aide only while you also get skilled care | Homebound, part-time skilled need, provider’s order, Medicare-certified agency |
| Outpatient physical therapy | Part B; 20% after the deductible, no yearly limit on medically necessary therapy | A provider certifies the need |
Medicare.gov says home health does not cover 24-hour care or custodial care as the only need, and its homebound test includes people who have trouble leaving home without a walker, cane or another person’s help. Our guides cover SNF coverage days, Medicare physical therapy and the home health benefit. Medicare Advantage members should call their plan, because rules can differ.
For Medicaid, the New York State Department of Health says managed long-term care plans provide home care, and enrollment requires being assessed as needing long-term services for more than 120 days. A short recovery may not fit that, so ask the hospital social worker which program applies. See what Medicaid covers and hospital discharge and home care.
Why do bones matter after a hip fracture or replacement?
AAOS reports that most hip fractures in older people involve weakened, osteoporotic bone, and that a broken leg bone after a replacement can mean more surgery. NIA says enough calcium and vitamin D and regular activity help keep bones strong. Ask the doctor about osteoporosis; our guide to osteoporosis symptoms and fractures covers the basics.
What the nurse director sees in practice
Anna Klyauzova, RN, MSN, MPA, Director of Patient Services at ProLife Home Care, on what she sees in practice:
We look closely at what the person can really do, not just what they say they can do. You can’t do all of it by yourself. Illness changes the whole family’s life, not only the patient’s. The sooner support is in place, the easier it is to keep a safe home and a familiar routine. Even a few hours of professional home care a week gives relatives time to rest. A home health aide a few days a week can change that. We want the person safe and well cared for, and the family able to breathe.
We are a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens, licence #2572L001, New York State Department of Health. If you are planning a hip replacement or coming home from the hospital, we can talk through what help you may need at home. Call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page.
Everything above was checked on 16 October 2026 against orthoinfo.aaos.org, niams.nih.gov, nia.nih.gov, medlineplus.gov, nhlbi.nih.gov, medicare.gov and health.ny.gov. Follow your own surgeon’s written instructions and call the surgeon’s office with questions. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does total hip replacement recovery take?
AAOS says most light daily activities return within 3 to 6 weeks, and NIAMS says much of the recovery happens in the first 2 months, with full recovery continuing over about a year. Your surgeon sets your own schedule.
How long is hip replacement recovery at 70 years old?
The sources give no separate schedule for age 70. AAOS says there are no absolute age limits and that decisions rest on pain and disability, while NIAMS says recovery speed depends on overall health and fitness before surgery.
How long do hip precautions last?
AAOS says special precautions usually last about the first 6 weeks and that most patients can resume most restricted movements after 6 to 8 weeks, but the specifics vary by surgical approach and surgeon. Follow your surgeon’s list.
When can I stop using a walker after hip replacement?
Your surgeon and physical therapist decide. AAOS says a cane can begin once you can walk and stand for more than 10 minutes without carrying weight on the walker, and that they will tell you when aids can safely stop.
Will Medicare pay for home care after a hip replacement?
Medicare covers part-time skilled nursing and therapy at home if you are homebound and a provider orders it, and an aide only while you also get that skilled care. It does not cover 24-hour care or custodial care alone.
When can I drive after hip surgery?
AAOS says driving is usually safe once you are off opioid pain medicine and your strength and reflexes have returned. Your doctor decides, and the wait may differ for a right or left hip.
What are the signs of infection or a blood clot after hip surgery?
AAOS lists a persistent fever above 100°F, chills, increasing redness, swelling or drainage at the wound, and calf pain or new swelling in the leg. Sudden breathlessness or chest pain needs emergency care. Call the surgeon right away for any of the others.
