Getting Ready for a New Hip!

One exercise used to build the muscles that support my hips is seen below. Although it can look a little bit like an S&M project it does give you a good workout. Prior to yesterday I had used the bungie cord device attached to a heavy piece of equipment. But this time Cris (Bless her soul) decided she would be the anchor. Using this approach I can take 40-80 "monster" steps forward instead of just 10. The red, white and blue scarf around my neck is to wipe away the perspiration this exercise produces.




The same equipment is used to take half squat side steps against the resistance presented by the bungie cord. Fun, fun, fun. It is our understanding these types of preparatory exercises provide a real benefit in the recovery process after the new hip surgery.

Another one we do involves a length of blue exercise band. It is kind of like a large rubber band. The resistance of a particular band is indicated by the color. I began with red then green and now blue. The band is tied in a circle, secured around a post, one foot goes in the band at the ankle then the band is stretched in each of the four directions of the compass. The stretching is done in 3 sets of 10 repeats first with one leg then the other. It almost looks like a ballet move.