Episode 22 - Being Active - 50 Activities After a Hip Replacement

October 03, 2025

Hip replacement doesn’t end your active life — it gives it back. Here are 50 real activities you can do after hip replacement surgery.

Life After Hip Replacement: 50 Activities You Can Do After Surgery

Staying Active After Hip Replacement: 50 Real Activities Patients Can Do

What Can You Do After Hip Replacement? 50 Activities That Prove You’re Not Limited

Hip replacement recovery, life after hip replacement, staying active after hip replacement, and returning to an active lifestyle after hip replacement are some of the most searched — and most misunderstood — topics for patients considering or recovering from hip replacement surgery.

In this episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, host Chris Bystriansky, a double hip replacement patient who is more than a decade removed from surgery, breaks down 50 real-world activities you can do after a hip replacement.

These are not theoretical ideas or medical recommendations — these are activities Chris has personally done after hip replacement surgery, proving that life after hip replacement can be full, active, and rewarding.

Many hip replacement patients fear they’ll be limited forever. They worry about exercise after hip replacement, sports after hip replacement, travel, recreation, and everyday movement.

This episode directly challenges that fear by showing what’s actually possible when recovery is approached with patience, consistency, and confidence.

You’ll hear about everything from walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, golf, yoga, weight training, and stretching — to roller coasters, water slides, traveling, flying, driving long distances, climbing ladders, bowling, cold plunges, saunas, and more.

These examples help patients reframe hip replacement surgery not as a life sentence, but as a second chance at movement and freedom.

This episode is especially valuable if you’re:
• Preparing for hip replacement surgery
• Early in hip replacement recovery
• Years past surgery but still unsure what’s safe
• Afraid of returning to activity after hip replacement
• Looking for motivation to move again

Chris also addresses a critical mindset shift: hip replacement isn’t about “being careful forever.” It’s about rebuilding strength, restoring confidence, and gradually expanding what your body can do. When patients stop assuming limitations and start testing movement intelligently, quality of life improves dramatically.

If you’re searching for honest, lived-experience guidance on life after hip replacement, staying active after hip replacement surgery, and what activities are possible after hip replacement, this episode delivers clarity, reassurance, and motivation.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LINKS & RESOURCES

Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

For more information, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

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Episode Transcript

Episode 22 – Being Active After Hip Replacement Surgery – 50 Activities After Hip Replacement - Transcript

Welcome to the Hip Replacement Podcast, where recovery meets motivation and healing leads to a whole new lifestyle.

I'm Chris Bystriansky, your host. I'm an author, athlete, and double hip replacement patient. I've been through the surgeries, the setbacks, and the comebacks. And I'm here to help you do the same.

Each week, I'll bring you tips, tools, expert advice, and inspiring stories to help you take back your life one step at a time. Thanks for joining the Hip Replacement Podcast.

New hips, new you. Let's go.

Welcome back to the Hip Replacement Podcast. I'm Chris Bystriansky, your host. I've also had both my hips replaced, one more than 12 years ago and one more than 10 years ago, and I'm here to share my experiences with you.

All right, so today we're going to talk about 50 activities that you can do after a hip replacement surgery. I've done every one of these, and I wanted to give you a sample of all the different things that you could possibly do after a hip replacement surgery.

A lot of times we might think—and I was guilty of this—that after a hip replacement surgery we would be really limited in the things we could do and wouldn’t have as full of a life. And that's not necessarily true.

So I'm going to share with you 50 things that I've done after a hip replacement surgery. Maybe some of these will inspire you to live a bigger life, a happier life, or a more fulfilling life, and maybe take away some of the fear of doing these things.

So here we go.

Ice skating. I grew up playing hockey and played in high school and adult leagues. As my hips got worse, I stopped playing and made the mistake of getting rid of my skates before surgery. After surgery, my kids wanted to go skating for parties and camps, so I bought new skates and skated with them.

If you're thinking about getting rid of sports equipment because you don’t know if you’ll use it again, my advice is to keep it and decide later.

Golfing. I've talked about this in other episodes. Golf torques the hips and is great for stretching. I also walk the course, which can be four to seven miles.

Miniature golf. I take it seriously. I play with my kids and try to beat them while still encouraging them.
Cycling. Great low-impact exercise. I stretch my hips afterward.
Hiking on flat land and hiking up mountains. Inclines stress the front of the hips more, so stretching is important.
Volleyball. I don’t jump anymore, but I have a good ground game.
Jump rope. I land on the balls of my feet to minimize impact.
Table tennis. I play often with my daughters at the YMCA and can play for hours.
Push-ups. Regular push-ups or knee push-ups.
Sit-ups. I do fewer now because they stress the front of my hips.
Weightlifting and squatting. I use machines instead of free weights.
Planks. Great core workout.
Lunges and wall sits.
Yoga. It’s ugly yoga, but it works.
Stretching. I stretch 10–20 minutes a day and wouldn’t give it up.
Driving. I’ve driven four to eight hours and across the country.
Flying. Sitting for a few hours isn’t an issue.
Airport security. I explain I have metal and get a pat-down.
Walking. I walk long distances and sometimes walk backward to strengthen glutes.
Running. I alternate running and walking on grass or gravel.
Swimming. I returned to the pool as soon as my incision healed.
Diving boards. No issues.
Sitting for long periods. I rotate chairs.
Sleeping. On my back or stomach is fine.
Roller coasters. I prefer steel over wooden.
Mountain coasters and mountain slides.
Go-karts. Tight fit, but fine.
Bumper cars.
Swings.
Water slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and speed slides.
Stairs. I often take them two at a time.
Whiffle ball and swinging a bat.
Vibrating plates.
Triathlons and events.
Housework. Repetitive motions bother me more than big movements.
Climbing ladders.
Cold plunges.
Hot tubs and saunas.
Walking on the beach. I walk with my longer leg closer to the water.
Bowling. I enjoy it, even though my wife once destroyed me.
Carousel rides. I climb up and ride with my kids.

That’s 50 different activities I’ve been able to do after hip replacement surgery. Maybe you’ve done some. Maybe you want to try some. These are available to you.

A hip replacement is not a life sentence. It’s an opportunity to get back to being active and living a full life.

Thanks so much for tuning into The Hip Replacement Podcast. Until next time, I wish you the best recovery possible. Take care.

Episode 22 - Being Active - 50 Activities After a Hip Replacement

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