Best Products for Hip Replacement Recovery: The Everyday Essentials

A few well-chosen pieces of equipment make hip replacement recovery far easier. The right items help you stay independent, protect your new hip, and keep you within your precautions, all without breaking the ninety-degree rule or asking you to bend, twist, or reach in ways you should avoid for the first few weeks. This is a practical checklist of the everyday essentials, grouped by what each item is for. You will not need everything here, and much of it is inexpensive. Many people find it easiest to get these sorted before the operation, so the house is ready when you come home.

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The hip recovery kit for dressing and reaching

This is the group of items most people are gladdest they bought, because bending to your feet is exactly what your hip precautions tell you not to do. A small kit restores your independence straight away.

A long-handled reacher or grabber lets you pick things up off the floor and manage clothing without bending. A sock aid slides socks on without reaching your feet, which is otherwise one of the most frustrating early problems. A long shoe horn helps with shoes, and a dressing stick manages pants and underwear. Many of these are sold together as a hip recovery kit, which usually works out cheaper than buying each piece separately and means nothing is missing on day one. Our guide on how to put on socks after surgery shows the technique.

A raised toilet seat

A standard toilet sits low, so lowering yourself onto it bends the hip past the ninety-degree limit. A raised toilet seat reduces how far you have to descend and is one of the most valuable items in the early weeks. Versions with built-in handles, or a surrounding frame, give you something firm to push up from, which makes getting back to standing far easier and safer.

A perching or shower stool and long-handled sponge

Standing for long periods is tiring and less stable while you heal, and balancing on one leg in the shower is risky. A perching stool or shower chair lets you wash sitting down, safely and calmly. A long-handled sponge then lets you reach your lower legs and feet without bending the hip, so you can wash properly while staying within your precautions. Our guide on how to shower after surgery covers safe washing.

A supportive seat cushion

A chair that is too low is hard to rise from and forces the hip to bend too far when you sit. A firm, supportive cushion raises the seat height so your hips stay above your knees, which respects the ninety-degree rule and turns an ordinary armchair or dining chair into something you can use safely. A firm wedge cushion is also a real help in the car, where the low seat is otherwise one of the trickier obstacles. Choose firm over soft, because a squashy cushion sinks and defeats the purpose. See how to get up from a chair after surgery for the technique that pairs with it.

A bed rail or grab handle

Getting in and out of bed is hard work in the early days, and you need something firm to push against rather than grabbing at soft bedding. A bed rail or grab handle that fixes to the bed frame gives you a secure point to steady yourself and lever up from, which protects the new hip from awkward twisting. See how to get in and out of bed after surgery for the safest method.

Walking aids and non-slip socks

Your main walking aids, whether a frame, crutches, or a stick, will normally be provided by the hospital, but a comfortable, height-adjustable stick is worth having for the later weeks as you progress and steady yourself around the house. Non-slip socks or slippers give you grip on smooth floors and are a simple, cheap way to lower the risk of slipping, which is the biggest hazard during recovery.

The essentials, if you only get a few things

If you would rather keep it simple, these are the items most people are glad they had ready before coming home: a reacher or grabber, a sock aid and long shoe horn, a raised toilet seat, a perching stool, a firm seat cushion that raises the seat height, and non-slip socks. Getting these basics in place before your operation means one less thing to think about when you come home and just want to rest. The recovery timeline shows when you are likely to need each one.

If you are willing to invest a little more in things that can genuinely speed up your comfort and recovery, such as a cold therapy machine or an exercise bike, see our companion guide to the best recovery tech for hip replacement.

This guide is part of our hip replacement recovery series. For the higher-end recovery technology, see our best recovery tech for hip replacement guide.