[Rehabilitation after total knee and hip arthroplasty]

The main purpose of total hip replacement is to relieve hip pain and recover the lost mobility of the joint. The postoperative functionality of the hip endoprosthesis is closely related to proper physiotherapy. A good range of motion, sufficient pain reduction and minimum disruption to the muscle tissues are conditions allowing the patients to perform individualized muscle strengthening exercises and to exercise the newly gained mobility, following practice sessions during the early postoperative period still in hospital. The authors describe the individual fazes of the physiotherapy and summarize the principles, which lead to a successful rehabilitation of the patient and his early recovery as well as return to normal life activities.