Essential Medical Equipment After Hip Replacement Surgery: The Complete Recovery Guide
Essential Equipment After Hip Replacement Surgery
Setting up your home before surgery makes recovery safer, more comfortable, and far less stressful. Here's everything you'll need, with the specific products we recommend and a ready-to-shop checklist, from our team.
After a hip replacement you'll have temporary limits on bending, twisting, and putting weight on the new joint, which makes everyday tasks like getting out of bed, using the bathroom, or showering surprisingly hard for the first few weeks. Having the right equipment in place before you get home lowers your fall risk, protects your hip, and keeps you independent. This guide covers what you need, the products we'd reach for, and how it all fits together.
Prepare before you go in
The safest recovery starts before the surgery date. Gathering equipment and clearing your space ahead of time means everything is ready the moment you get home, when moving around is at its hardest.
⚠️The first weeks carry real fall risk
- Set the home up before surgery. You won't want to rearrange furniture or shop while recovering.
- Clear trip hazards, loose rugs, cords, and clutter in your walking paths.
- Follow your surgeon's hip precautions exactly, how far you can bend, twist, or cross your legs. When in doubt, ask your care team.
The essentials, in one line
- The three you can't skip: a walker, a raised toilet seat, and a shower chair.
- Add grab bars and a transfer bench for the bathroom, the highest-risk room in recovery.
- Reachers and dressing aids let you get through the day without bending past what your surgeon allows.
Mobility: getting around safely
Most patients move through a predictable path, a walker first, then a rollator, with a wheelchair for longer distances if needed.
| Standard Walker | Rollator | Wheelchair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability | Highest, stays planted | Good, rolls | Seated, no standing |
| Best in recovery | First days & weeks | Later, as strength returns | Long distances or when standing is too much |
| Has a seat | No | Yes | Yes |
Bathroom safety
The bathroom is where most falls happen in recovery. Four items make the biggest difference, our full bathroom safety guide covers placement and fit.
- Raised toilet seat. Reduces how far you bend to sit and stand, one of the most-used items in recovery. We like the Drive Medical PreserveTech Universal Raised Toilet Seat. Browse all →
- Shower chair. Bathe seated instead of standing on a healing hip. The PCP Shower Chair with Flip-Up Arm makes transfers easy. Browse all →
- Transfer bench. Sit outside the tub and slide across, safer than stepping over the edge. See the Drive Medical Folding Universal Sliding Transfer Bench. Browse all →
- Grab bars. Secure support inside the shower, next to the toilet, and by the tub entrance. Browse grab bars →
Bedroom recovery essentials
- Bed rail. Something solid to grip getting in and out of bed. The Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail adjusts and includes an organizer pouch. Browse all →
- Overbed table. Keeps meals, medication, and your phone within reach without twisting. Browse overbed tables →
- Leg elevation pillow. Elevating the leg keeps swelling down, especially in the first weeks. Browse →
- Hospital bed (some patients). Adjustable positioning for those who need it — ask your care team. Browse →
Living room & kitchen
- Lift chair. A powered recliner that gently rises to help you stand without bending, a living-room favorite in recovery. Browse lift chairs →
- Reacher / grabber. Pick things up off the floor without bending, you'll use it constantly. Browse reachers →
- Walker basket. Carry items hands-free in the kitchen while your hands stay on the walker. Browse →
Comfort & recovery
- Compression stockings. Support circulation and help reduce clot risk during low-activity recovery, your surgeon may prescribe these. Browse compression →
- Cold / ice therapy. Helps control pain and swelling around the incision. Browse cold therapy →
- Support cushions. Add comfort and help with positioning while you heal. Browse cushions →
Daily living aids (so you don't have to bend)
After a hip replacement, reaching down to your feet is off-limits for a while. These small tools make everyday tasks possible on your own:
- Reacher / grabber. The hero tool, grab anything off the floor or a high shelf. Browse →
- Sock aid. Put socks on without bending your hip. Browse →
- Long-handled shoe horn. Slip shoes on without reaching your feet. Browse →
- Dressing stick. Pull up pants and manage clothing hands-free. Browse →
Your before-surgery shopping checklist
- MobilityWalker · rollator (later, if appropriate) · wheelchair (if recommended)
- BathroomRaised toilet seat · shower chair · transfer bench · grab bars
- BedroomBed rail · overbed table · leg elevation pillow
- RecoveryCompression stockings · ice therapy · support cushions
- Daily livingReacher · sock aid · dressing stick · long-handled shoe horn
Print this or bring it in-store, our team can help you gather everything in one trip, or ship it to arrive before your surgery date.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I need a walker after hip replacement?
Recovery varies by patient. Most people use a walker for the first few weeks, then progress to a rollator or cane as strength and balance return. Your surgeon or physical therapist will advise when it's safe to transition.
Should I buy a rollator or a walker?
Many patients begin with a standard walker right after surgery for maximum stability, then move to a rollator as balance and strength improve. Always follow your provider's recommendation. Our rollator guide explains the differences.
Do I really need a raised toilet seat?
Almost always. A low toilet forces you to bend past your hip precautions and makes standing difficult. A raised seat — often paired with a safety frame — is one of the most-used items in the first weeks.
Is a shower chair necessary?
For most people, yes. Standing in a wet shower on a healing hip is a real fall risk. A shower chair lets you bathe seated; if stepping over the tub is hard, a transfer bench is safer. See our bathroom safety guide.
Can I sleep in my own bed?
Usually yes. A bed rail makes getting in and out safer, and a leg elevation pillow helps with swelling. Some patients benefit from a higher or adjustable setup — ask your care team what's right for you.
Recovering from hip surgery? Let us build your list.
Bring the checklist and our specialists will help you gather everything in one place, in-store at our Hallandale Beach and Miami locations, or shipped to arrive before your surgery date. We carry the mobility, bathroom, bedroom, and recovery products commonly recommended, all under one roof.
Shop mobility · Featured equipment · Home health care
This guide is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Recovery needs vary from person to person and by surgical approach. Always follow your surgeon's and physical therapist's specific instructions, including your hip precautions, before and after surgery.
