Thanks a lot for getting my hip right. Looking forward to a full recovery and a great season. Thanks again for everything.
Hip arthroscopy is becoming a game-changer for athletes eager to return quickly to peak performance after hip joint injuries. The American Hip Institute (AHI) has pioneered a fast-track physical therapy protocol that supports accelerated recovery without compromising safety. Backed by two-year patient outcomes, this evidence-based approach guides athletes through a carefully phased rehabilitation to restore strength, mobility, and function efficiently.
A Structured Pathway to Recovery Starts Day One
American Hip Institute’s protocol begins immediately after surgery with protected motion and weight-bearing limits to protect repaired tissues. Patients use a brace and assistive devices while progressing from passive to active range of motion exercises, ensuring early mobilization to prevent stiffness but avoid overstressing healing structures. Use of a continuous passive motion machine and stationary cycling facilitates gentle movement in the initial weeks.
Progressive Strength and Functional Rebuilding
As healing advances, the rehab protocol transitions into strength rebuilding, focusing on hip, pelvis, and lower extremity muscles, especially the gluteus medius. Non-weight-bearing to partial weight-bearing exercises evolve to full weight-bearing strengthening. Balance exercises and gait normalization are integral to preventing compensations that could impede recovery or cause secondary injuries.
Advanced Conditioning and Sport-Specific Training
Around 10 to 14 weeks post-operation, athletes move into advanced conditioning, including jogging progression starting with controlled treadmill intervals. The protocol introduces lateral movements, agility drills, and plyometrics tailored to the athlete’s sport. Graduated intensity ensures athletes regain power and coordination safely, preparing for non-contact and then full-contact practice phases.
Outcomes Validating AHI’s Protocol
Research supporting this protocol demonstrates significant improvements in pain, function, and return to sport rates at two years post hip arthroscopy.1 Importantly, the structured, phased approach minimizes setbacks and complications, promoting sustained long-term joint health and athlete confidence.
Why AHI’s Fast-Track Protocol Works
American Hip Institute’s success derives from combining expert surgical techniques with individualized, milestone-driven rehab that respects tissue healing timelines while aggressively restoring function. Close monitoring and modification based on patient response ensure optimal progress for each athlete. This protocol embodies a balance between protection and progression, crucial for a fast and safe return to sport.
Get Back in the Game Sooner
Athletes considering hip arthroscopy can trust American Hip Institute’s fast-track recovery protocol to speed their return to competition safely and successfully. By following clear phases that emphasize early mobilization, progressive strengthening, and sports-specific training, patients achieve sustained improvements in joint health and performance. Interested athletes should schedule a consultation to discuss this rehabilitative approach with us to tailor recovery plans that best suit their goals.
AUTHOR:Benjamin D. Kuhns, MD, MS, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the comprehensive management of adult hip pain. Dr. Kuhns offers a full spectrum of care, from non-operative treatments—including hip-specific physical therapy, medication management, and targeted injections—to advanced surgical solutions. His surgical expertise includes complex primary and revision hip arthroscopy, open hip preservation procedures such as periacetabular and proximal femoral osteotomies, and robotic-assisted anterior total hip replacement.
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