Cindy is demonstrating how to get in/out of the car after a Total Hip Replacement.
Be sure to follow your hip precautions and have assistance to help maintain the precautions, use a gait belt
Some individuals may choose to use the back seat, sliding straight back across the seat so that the legs are resting on the seat. This will take good arm strength to be able to get into the car this way. You still need to monitor your hip precautions, especially if you are under the precaution of no bending more than 90 degrees at the hip/waist. When getting into the front seat, have the seat pushed back as far a possible to assist in getting the legs into the car. Lay the seat back for additional room to scoot back into the car for taller individuals.
Getting Into the Car
- Turn with the walker, back up to the car seat until you feel the car at the back of your leg
- Keep the surgical leg forward, reach back with at least one hand (may want to consider car assist handle for improved hand placement and assist)
- Watch angle at your hip if you are under the precaution of no bending greater than 90 degrees, as you lower yourself into the car. Caregiver needs to help watch your head and hold the walker as needed for additional support
- As you scoot back into the car, have your caregiver assist your surgical leg into the car, taking care to monitor possible hip precautions of no bending more than 90 degrees at the hip/waist and/or no active movement of the leg out to the side, way from the body, if you are under either of these precautions
Getting Out of the Car
- Have your caregiver assist your surgical leg out of the car, monitoring any hip precautions
- Scoot forward to the edge of the car seat
- Keep the surgical leg forward, push up with your hands and good leg to stand, getting assistance from your caregiver as needed in order to maintain your hip precautions
- Place one hand on the walker at a time, returning to standing
Car Assist Handles