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There are many everyday activities we take for granted. Climbing up and down stairs is one of them. After hip replacement surgery, going up and down stairs is suddenly a monumental endeavor--but it is possible so long as you follow a few rules. It is helpful if you have prepared your home prior to surgery to make things as simple as possible. If your bedroom is on a top floor, perhaps you could have your bed moved down to the main floor.
Instructions
1. Always use your crutches in some capacity as a support until your doctor releases you after your hip replacement. Don't be tempted to put them aside to attempt stairs, even using railings.
2. Keep the corresponding leg to the injured hip straight as you go up and down stairs for the first few weeks. This will seem strange at first and may even feel awkward, but you will get used to it.
3. Use your good leg to go first up the stairs.
4. Place your weight on the crutches as you hop up the stair with the good leg and place all of your weight on that leg to pull up when going up the stair. Place the crutches immediately on the stair as you rise up and allow yourself to lean on them to regain your balance. Keeping your trailing injured leg straight, lift yourself up the stair.
5. Consider an alternative method. Place both crutches under one arm on your injured side and hold the railing on the alternate, "good" side. Use the same method as above. This is a slightly more stable method than only using crutches and is best employed if at all possible and a sturdy rail is available.
6. Use your injured leg to lead when going down the stairs.
7. Place your injured leg straight over the lip of the top stair. Place your crutches firmly on the step you are going to, leaning into the decline with your good leg bent. Hop quickly down to the stair with your good leg and regain your balance.
Tags: injured straight, Place your, your good, your injured, down stairs