Heal Your Hips: How to Prevent Hip Surgery -- and What to Do If You Need It

by Robert Klapper

The first comprehensive guide to hip health Avoid injury, prevent deterioration, work out in water and on land, and understand the entire range of surgical options Once considered a natural consequence of aging, hip disorders can be reduced or eliminated altogether by innovative exercise regimens. Heal Your Hips explores an unprecedented range of preventive options you can take today to avoid hip injury and improve your hip health--including wonderful water and land exercises and intensive stretching. Numerous illustrations help you understand the structure and function of your hips, and dozens of photographs clearly demonstrate how to do the exercises. If indeed hip surgery is in your future, Heal Your Hips provides vital new information on several little-known, minimally invasive forms of surgery as well as straightforward coverage of traditional ""replacement"" surgery. You'll learn what to expect with hip surgery--from preparing for the procedure to the day of the operation to returning home and recovering with physical therapy. The practical and long-overdue guidance in Heal Your Hips will be a revelation for the millions enduring the pain of hip deterioration and injury. Whether you or your loved ones are considering hip surgery or have yet to seek medical help, turn first to the indispensable expertise in this optimistic and accessible resource.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

Reviews

[Kevin Luo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has had lots of experience with hip pain and hip surgery, I picked up this book out of desperation as I was browsing a book store in Los Angeles. I had recently went on a family vacation and hip pain had really messed up the trip, as I had an injury a few weeks before while cycling and it flared its head while traveling. Once I get the dully, achy anterior hip pain that lead to me requiring surgery, it becomes quite depressing.

I read this book and believe that this book does a great job of explaining the anatomy of the hip, exercises to be able to help hip pain (especially with the pool), discussing surgery, and also just providing encouragement. I would say hip pain has been the most debilitating of injuries, as you can do very little with it and the process of surgery and recovery is demoralizing. I will incorporate these pool exercises and give it a good run to heal my hip and hopefully avoid surgery in the future. The only critique I would have is that some of the exercise lists are a bit disorganized towards the end and a bit hard to follow, but overall a wonderful book. Thank you Dr. Klapper and Lynda!

[Heather A. Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who is dealing with hip pain and considering surgery. Even if you know you need surgery, this book has helpful, practical exercises to strengthen your body as you prepare for surgery. Having had a PAO surgery to my left hip, I can promise you that getting yourself physically ready for the surgery is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It will make a world of difference while you are in the hospital and when you go home for the long recovery process. Many of the water exercises in this book, I instinctively did daily as I was recovering from my hip surgery. For 11 months, I was not permitted to walk on both legs...unless I was at least waist deep in water. Then I was permitted to walk and bicycle my legs, building strength for when it was time for me to walk properly on land.

Great book!!!

[Michael Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently working on the aquatic exercises and finding them helpful. This is the pre=hab
stage & the post op rehab remains to be seen. If you have hip problems and good access to a pool and/or aquatics program, you should give this a try.

There are explanations of various hip problems, hip surgeries, and outcome prognoses. A lot of this material is available elsewhere ... one thing I have learned is you really have to pay attention to what your surgeons and PTs do now, because techniques, preferences, and guidance continues to change. The medical parts of this book probably need to be updated, but they are not really out of date. They are a good foundation for asking your team questions and managing your treatment.

[Michael W. Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 7th book I have read and it by far the best


Excellent information
I highly recommend reading this book

Now for the hard part ... Execution
I hope to delay my hip replacement .. At least for a while

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was so-so but it’s the only one of its kind so that makes it five stars really.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some helpful info if dealing with chronic hip pain

Had some good info and tips. Not much info for femoral retroversion which is my condition. Pool training program was included.

[Johanna O'Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a very helpful book.

[Toshio · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Make sure you visit the website cited in the book as they have up to date information on new conditions such as FAI which were not diagnosable conditions in the late 90's when this book was published.**

Okay, this is book is obviously for a niche audience, but if you have, or even suspect you might have hip issues (lower back pain, groin pain, leg weakness on one side or deteriorating range of motion) this book is a valuable read. If you have hip issues, it is an ABSOLUTE MUST. A lot of the exercises and stretches in here are exactly what you will get if you pay lots of money for physical therapy.

Dr. Klapper has performed hundreds (thousands actually) of hip surgeries, and his expertise shows. Do the stretches religiously and you will improve your condition, and hopefully improve the quality of your physical life as well. It's helped me immensely.

[Charity Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has become my health bible this summer after dealing with crazy orthopedic surgeons who kept saying, “You’re too young for a new hip.” and “There’s really nothing we can do for you at this point.” The two authors of this book will not only get your sad & saggy hips ready for surgery but they will guide you to choosing the right doctor for you and which questions to ask. They have also helped pave the way for the refined anterior approach (faster healing hip replacement) and hip arthroscopy (hip repair via scope). These guys teamed up with 1994 basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain and his needs for hip repair to bring to the forefront these innovative ideas in the surgical room and the pool. The hip socket is so amazing and what’s more amazing is how much emotional stress we can hold in our hips. And of course we all know that excessive weight puts undue stress on our joints. One pound of weight loss will relieve six pounds of pressure on your hips and four pounds of pressure on your knees. Incredible! So? Love on yourself! Get on a good food plan, get in the pool, and never give up researching and pushing your doctors for more answers!