Can You Sit and Sleep in a Recliner after Hip Replacement?

Hip replacement surgery is not to be taken lightly. Whether you’ve had a complete hip replacement or hip resurfacing, knowing what you can and cannot do is extremely valuable. Hip replacement surgery involves replacing the hip ball and socket with a plastic and metal implant. Many patients who have undergone hip replacement surgery wonder, can I sit in a recliner after hip replacement?

People can sometimes sit in a recliner after hip replacement surgery. However, the type of recliner matters. Here’s a guide to active post-surgery rehab and sitting in a recliner.

The recliner chair is a popular choice for patients following hip replacement surgery. After an operation, it is the perfect place to sit in order to recuperate. Nevertheless, patients should remember a few things.

Generally, surgeons restrict their patients’ movements and give them a range of motion they must adhere to during recovery. A patient is usually put under these restrictions if they undergo a lateral or posterior total hip replacement operation.

Can You Sit & Sleep In A Recliner After Hip Replacement?

Advantages and disadvantages of using a recliner after hip replacement

After hip surgery, you need to consider a few things when you are going to sleep in a recliner. The first important thing is to ensure that the recliner is at a comfortable height so that you can get in and out effortlessly.

If you are planning to use a recliner to sleep after hip surgery, then there are a few advantages and disadvantages that you should consider.

Hip replacement surgery is a major procedure that involves the replacement of a damaged or diseased hip joint with an artificial joint. After hip replacement surgery, patients may experience discomfort and pain in the hip and surrounding areas, which can make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Some patients may find that sleeping in a recliner is more comfortable than sleeping in a bed, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider.

Advantages:

Reduced pressure on the hip: Sleeping in a recliner can reduce pressure on the hip joint, which can be beneficial for patients who have undergone hip replacement surgery. This can help to alleviate pain and discomfort in the hip and surrounding areas.
Better support for the back: Recliners provide better support for the back than regular beds, as they allow patients to adjust the angle of the chair to their comfort level. This can be especially important for patients who have had hip replacement surgery, as they may need extra support and cushioning in the lower back area.
Easier to get in and out of bed: Patients who have had hip replacement surgery may have difficulty getting in and out of bed due to pain and stiffness in the hip area. Sleeping in a recliner can make it easier to get in and out of bed, as the chair is at a higher level and provides more support than a regular bed.

Disadvantages:

Risk of pressure sores: Sleeping in a recliner for long periods of time can increase the risk of pressure sores, especially if the patient is not able to shift their weight regularly. This can be a concern for patients who are unable to move around easily due to pain or mobility issues.
Risk of blood clots: Patients who have had hip replacement surgery are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, and sleeping in a recliner for extended periods of time can increase this risk. This is because sitting in a reclined position for too long can slow down blood flow in the legs, which can lead to blood clots.
Discomfort in other areas: While sleeping in a recliner may be comfortable for the hip and back, it may cause discomfort in other areas such as the neck, shoulders, and arms. Patients may need to adjust their position frequently to avoid these issues.

In conclusion, sleeping in a recliner after hip replacement surgery can provide benefits such as reduced pressure on the hip and better back support. However, there are also potential disadvantages to consider such as the risk of pressure sores and blood clots. Patients should discuss their sleeping options with their healthcare provider to determine the best course of action for their individual needs.

Post-Operation Movement Restrictions

There are certain movements that doctors instruct their patients to restrict in order to prevent the risk of injury. These movements include the following:

One should not bend the hip past a 90-degree angle
A patient should not undergo any internal rotation
Crossing the legs is not acceptable for patients

Sit in a recliner after hip surgery

When you are sitting in the recliner with your feet at heart level or above, gravity can naturally reduce the amount of stress and inflammation in your body. The advantage of this position is that it jumpstarts the body’s circulation and assists in healing faster after surgery. As a result, your doctor will usually recommend that you sit in a recliner until you recover from your surgery. Here’s how a recliner chair can help these patients:

Recliner chair benefit: In restriction to bend hips more than 90 degrees

A hip bent over 90 degrees will put unnecessary strain on the surgically stitched joint capsule. During this time, the recliner chair greatly assists the patient.

Furthermore, rehabilitation practitioners refer to “loose-pack positions” of joints as a concept. The loose-pack position simply refers to a joint placed in a relaxed position where all of its capsules are not under stress and are relaxed.
The hip joint bends about 15 degrees and abducts just a bit (legs out to the side). A reclining chair can simply provide a patient with that loose-pack position. Additionally, a recliner chair offers a comfortable way for a patient to converse or watch TV with much less flexion than a typical chair without reclining.

Recliner chair benefit: In restriction on crossing legs

Generally, patients who have hip replacements don’t cross their legs afterward because the recliner naturally stops them. While reclining in their chairs, patients’ legs are usually slightly tilted upward at an angle.

Recliner chair benefit: In restriction on internal rotation

After the surgery, the patients will have to stand in internal rotation, which means they will have to point their toes in the same direction. Surgery restricts any movement that may lead to the patient rotating internally during surgery. The surgeons are very strict about this rule. Having a recliner in front of you naturally prevents this movement from taking place.

Generally, when a patient is sitting in a recliner, he or she will tend to point their toes toward the sides while they are comfortable. Recliners are ideal chairs for hip replacement surgery patients because they naturally inhibit the urge to point toes in the same direction.

Can you sleep in a recliner after hip surgery?

The idea of sleeping in a recliner may appear attractive to you if you are recovering from hip surgery. Having hip surgery does not prevent you from sleeping in a recliner. You’ll need to know a few things about the recliner option.

Especially if your bed cannot be adjusted, it can be more comfortable to sleep in an armchair than in a bed. As you are recovering from surgery, you will likely need to elevate the leg as much as possible at first in order to control swelling and pain.

Moreover, having the option to sleep in a recliner gives you the convenience of not worrying about the pillows sliding around or falling out while trying to sleep.

Check out the best recliners for hip pain here.

Topics:

pain