Prehab and exercise
Going into surgery stronger helps you recover with more confidence. This page covers the exercise programs we point people to, and how to prepare your body before a hip replacement.
Strong going in, steady coming out
Prehab means building strength and movement before surgery, rather than only afterward. People who go in stronger tend to find the early weeks easier, get moving sooner, and feel more in control of their recovery.
To be honest about what it does: prehab helps most with early recovery and confidence. It does not change how well the new joint works a year later. That does not make it a small thing, since the first weeks are when most people want the most help.
Where to get a structured plan
GLA:D Canada
Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark
An evidence-based education and exercise program for hip and knee arthritis, run by trained physiotherapists over about six weeks. It suits people managing symptoms and people preparing for a joint replacement.
Find a GLA:D program →Physiotherapy
One-to-one, tailored to you
A physiotherapist can build a plan around your hip, your strength, and your goals, and adjust it as you go. This is the most personal option, and a good choice if you have other joints or health issues to work around.
Find a physiotherapist →How to find and check a physiotherapist
Every physiotherapist practising in Ontario must be registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. The College keeps a public register you can search to find a physiotherapist near you and to check that anyone you plan to see is registered and in good standing.
You can search by name, clinic, city, or language, and see a therapist's areas of practice. It is a simple way to make sure the person treating your hip is properly qualified.
Open the College register- Whether a physiotherapist is registered to practise in Ontario.
- Their areas of practice, so you can look for hip and post-surgery experience.
- Clinic, city, and languages spoken.
- Their standing with the College.
Funding for physiotherapy
Physiotherapy in Ontario is publicly funded in some situations. Two of these are worth knowing about before and after a hip replacement.
After your surgery: bundled care
If you have a first-time (primary) hip replacement, your rehabilitation is usually covered through a provincial program called bundled care. Your hospital connects you with a participating physiotherapy provider, and you receive physiotherapy at no cost, bundled with your surgery. Revision surgery is not part of bundled care, so if you are having a revision, the options below apply.
How bundled care works →OHIP-funded clinics
Ontario funds physiotherapy at designated Community Physiotherapy Clinics for some people, including anyone within twelve months of an overnight hospital stay or a day-surgery procedure, seniors, youth, and people on ODSP or Ontario Works. You can use these clinics before or after surgery if you qualify.
Check who is eligible →Not sure which applies to you?
Your hospital's patient care coordinator or Dr. Khoshbin's office can tell you how your post-surgery physiotherapy will be funded, and whether bundled care covers you. It is worth asking early, so it is arranged before you go home.
What prehab works on
A good program is built around a few simple goals. Your physiotherapist or program will set the exact exercises and how far to push, so start there rather than pushing into pain on your own.
- Hip movement. Gentle exercises to keep the hip moving as freely as your symptoms allow.
- Strength around the hip. Working the muscles of the buttock and thigh that support and steady the joint.
- General fitness. Low-impact activity such as walking, cycling, or pool work to keep your heart and lungs in good shape for surgery.
- Balance and walking. Practising steady, even walking, which pays off in the first days after surgery.
Move within comfort
Prehab should not be painful. A little effort is fine, but sharp or lasting pain is a sign to ease off and check with your physiotherapist. The aim is steady progress, not a hard push.
This page is general information, not a personal exercise prescription. Before starting a new program, check with your physiotherapist or doctor, especially if you have other joint or health conditions.