(I) Sleeping position
When sleeping, put a pillow between your legs, turn around with the non-operated side up, and do not cross your feet when lying in bed. The rehabilitation therapist can design the appropriate height of the bed or chair and provide you with ways to modify the furniture. Sleeping on your back: Do not cross your feet. Side sleeping position: the leg of the joint replacement is underneath. Lin Zhangwang, Department of Orthopedics, Jianou City Hospital of Integrative Medicine
(II) Sitting posture
When sitting in a chair, always keep the hip joint bent not more than 90°. Avoid sitting on low chairs or soft sofas. If you must sit on a low chair, first straighten the leg of the joint replacement. You should not bend forward, pad your feet or fold your feet.
(iii) From standing to sitting or sitting to standing up
Slowly move the body back until the “good foot” touches the edge of the chair. Before sitting down, extend the foot on the side that has been operated on forward and use the chair handle to support the body to sit down slowly without leaning the body forward.
When standing up, you should first move your body to the edge of the chair, stretch out the side of the foot that has been operated on, and use the chair handle to support your body.
(D) Toilet
When going to the toilet, do not squat. When standing up or sitting down, straighten the operated foot first and sit down slowly with the “good foot” bent.
(E) Dressing and undressing
1. Wearing pants. ①Put on underwear and pants: hook the pants with long-handled pliers or dressing aids, lower them to the ground, straighten the operated side of the foot first and put the pants on, then put on the other side, pull the pants up to the thigh, stand up and put on the pants, before standing up, follow the steps of “3”. When taking off the underwear and pants: push the trouser head lower than the hip, sit down slowly, push the pants lower than the knee, pull out the non-operated side of the foot first, and then pull out the other side of the pants only with long-handled pliers or dressing aids, do not raise the operated side of the foot or bend over to take off the pants.
2. Put on the socks. Put the socks on the auxiliary sleeve first, hang the cotton band of the auxiliary to the ground, put the foot in, and then pull up the socks. When taking off the socks, push down the toe of the sock with the dressing aid to expose the ankle and push the sock away from the foot.
3. Put on shoes. When putting on shoes, use a long-handled shoe draw, which can avoid overflexion of the hip joint, and stand with one hand holding the edge of the furniture or bed at the appropriate height, bend the side that has been operated on backwards, and then put on shoes.
(E) Bathing
When taking a bath, you can stand and use the shower. If you must use the bathtub, use a seat of appropriate height, or use a shower chair or board placed in the bathtub. Before sitting down, put your feet close to the bathtub, straighten out the foot on the side where the surgery was done, press the center of the bathing board with one hand, and sit down slowly with the other hand holding the walking frame or handrail (do not sit on the edge of the board). The “good foot” moves in first. The operated foot should be moved into the tub at the same time as the body, without twisting the body, and keeping the foot straight.
The rehabilitation therapist will provide training on the proper way to use the aids to meet the needs of the patient’s home, and the shower can be cleaned with a shower hose and a long-handled brush by holding the operated side straight out next to the tub.
(F) Pick up things from the ground
You can use long-handled pliers to pick up things, or put the operated side of the foot behind you, and then kneel down to get things, so as to avoid excessive hip flexion. The suitability of this method depends on the individual patient’s physical ability.
(vii) Home operation
When dealing with household operations, try to use methods that save physical strength and simplify the process, such as
The You should sit down to work if you can.
The To take intermittent breaks
The Pre-arrange each day’s activities, and even better, plan the process properly, and then actually implement it.
The Store objects at the appropriate height (i.e., between the waist) to avoid bending or squatting low to get things.
The When you encounter heavy work, you should get help from others.
(H) Take transportation
When riding in a private car, you should push back the front chair and lean back, then move your body slowly backward and put the operated side straight in front; when riding in a bus, you should step on the foot without surgery first and get off with the operated foot first, and choose a seat near the corridor or with open space in front, and straighten the operated foot.
(ix) Exercise
It is not advisable to do strenuous exercises that overload the body (e.g. soccer, squash, etc.), but moderate and light exercises can help avoid weight gain.
(xi) Other matters
The rehabilitation therapist will assess the difficulties encountered by individual patients in their daily lives and provide a treatment plan, including skills training and the use of various appropriate aids, so that the patients can take care of themselves and adapt to their daily needs as far as possible.