After a Hip Replacement, Can You Run, Golf or Play Pickleball?

Which activities are generally fine after a hip replacement?

AAOS OrthoInfo encourages walking as much as you like once cleared, and calls swimming an excellent low-impact option once the wound has healed. It lists golfing, bicycling, and doubles tennis or pickleball as lower-impact activities that put less stress on the hip.

MedlinePlus similarly notes that people can usually return to low-impact activities such as hiking, gardening, swimming, playing tennis and golfing, while avoiding downhill skiing and contact sports like football and soccer.

For golfers, the results are encouraging. A large survey of amateur golfers found that most hip replacement patients maintained or increased how much golf they played afterward.

OrthoInfo's total hip replacement guide describes realistic activities after surgery as including unlimited walking, swimming, golf, driving, hiking, biking and dancing. That is a wide range, and it covers what most people want to get back to.

Is running after a hip replacement a good idea?

Running is the activity surgeons discuss most carefully. OrthoInfo explains that the material between the ball and socket of every hip replacement wears with use, and that excessive activity or extra body weight may speed that wear and cause loosening. For that reason, most surgeons advise against high-impact activities like running.

That said, some people do run. A multi-center study of joint replacement patients found that only about 12 percent of people who ran before surgery returned to running, most within a year. Hip replacement patients were more likely to return than knee patients, and in this study runners did not have a significantly higher revision rate.

If running matters to you, talk it through with your surgeon. Implant type, fixation, bone quality, body weight, running history and how much you plan to run all factor into the decision.

A middle ground some people choose is brisk walking, hiking or an elliptical trainer, which give a similar workout with far less impact.

What is the usual timeline back to activity?

Every recovery is different, but some patterns are common. MedlinePlus notes that most people no longer need a walker or crutches after 2 to 4 weeks. Full recovery usually takes a few months, and the pace depends on your health, strength and the work you put into therapy.

OrthoInfo advises continuing your prescribed exercises for at least 2 months after surgery. Many people return to gentle golf, cycling and swimming in the following months as strength returns, while doubles pickleball and tennis usually come a bit later. Your surgeon will clear each step.

Driving is usually safe once you are off opioid pain medicine and your strength and reflexes have returned, according to OrthoInfo.

Expect good days and harder days. Swelling, fatigue and some stiffness often linger for weeks, especially after busier days. Steady progress over each month matters more than any single session.

Does the anterior approach or a modern implant change things?

The direct anterior approach reaches the hip through the front, between muscles. OrthoInfo notes that it requires less disruption of muscle and tissue and that recovery has been reported to be faster, although the long-term benefits appear similar to traditional approaches.

With any approach, early recovery is about protecting the healing tissues and rebuilding strength. Movement precautions vary by surgeon and approach, so follow the specific instructions you are given.

Modern bearing surfaces are designed to wear slowly, and many people keep their implant for life. Protecting that implant still matters, especially for younger, very active patients.

Can I sleep on my side, cross my legs or climb stairs?

OrthoInfo notes that depending on your surgery, your surgeon may ask you to avoid certain sleeping positions or sleep with a pillow between your legs for a period of time. Many people sleep on their back at first and move to their side as comfort and clearance allow.

OrthoInfo's list of precautions includes not crossing your legs at the knees for at least 6 to 8 weeks. MedlinePlus advises avoiding low chairs and soft sofas early on, and getting up to move after about 45 minutes of sitting.

Stairs are part of daily life from the start, usually one step at a time with a rail. A common reminder is up with the good leg and down with the operated leg, until strength allows a normal pattern.

Bending to tie shoes or pick things up from the floor may be limited at first. Long-handled tools such as a reacher and sock aid make the early weeks much easier.

What warning signs after hip replacement need attention?

Contact your surgeon promptly for increasing redness, swelling or drainage at the incision, fever, new calf pain or swelling, or hip pain that suddenly worsens. A hip that suddenly gives way, looks shortened or turned, or cannot bear weight after a fall needs emergency care.

Call 911 for chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, which can signal a blood clot in the lungs.

Pain that lingers long after recovery should be investigated as well. Causes range from tendon irritation to implant problems, and an exam with X-rays is the first step.

How can I plan for an active life with a new hip?

Share your goals with your surgeon before surgery. Whether you want to hike, golf weekly, chase grandkids or get back to the pickleball court shapes the conversation about approach, implant and rehabilitation.

Building strength before surgery and staying at a healthy weight both help recovery and reduce stress on the implant. If you are weighing a hip replacement, or want a second opinion on what sports will be realistic afterward, our team is glad to talk it through at a visit.

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