What Items Are in a Hip Kit?

A hip kit is a six-piece set of tools that can assist you with daily tasks as you recover from hip replacement surgery. They include a:

• Sock aid
• Reacher
• Long-handled shoehorn
• Bath sponge
• Dressing stick
• Set of elastic shoelaces
  

These tools can help you perform activities like getting dressed and picking things up off the floor. A hip kit can make it easier to follow hip precautions and adjust to your limited mobility following a hip replacement surgery.

Precautions After Hip Replacement

During total hip replacement surgery, a prosthesis is surgically implanted to replace the damaged hip joint. A traditional hip prosthesis has three parts:

• Plastic cup that replaces the hip socket or acetabulum
• Metal ball that replaces the femoral head
• Metal stem that is placed in the shaft of the femur

To prevent dislocation of the hip prosthesis after surgery, you must follow certain precautions recommended by your healthcare team.

For example, certain movements are restricted, such as:

• Crossing your legs
• Bending too far forward (beyond 90 degrees)

A physical therapist or an occupational therapist will teach you more about them and make recommendations for continuing with usual activities while being mindful of the necessary restrictions.

Some assistive devices and tools can help with this, and that is where a hip kit comes in.

Items in a Hip Kit

You can buy a complete hip kit from a medical supply store, drugstore, or your local pharmacy. A kit typically costs around $30, but the price can range between from $12 and $60. You can also purchase items individually and make your own hip kit, if you prefer.

Some hip kits may not contain all six items, perhaps to keep the cost down. When purchasing a hip kit, look carefully at what it contains.

Sock Aid

A sock aid is designed to help you put on your socks without bending over to reach your feet.

The sock aid has two main parts:

• A flexible or semi-flexible part that the sock slips over
• Two long handles so you can drop the sock part to the floor, slide your foot into the sock opening, and pull onto your foot

Dressing Stick

A dressing stick is a lightweight, thin rod with hooks at each end. The stick is about 27 inches long to help you get dressed without bending or reaching for your clothes.

The hook at one end helps you pull up pants or pick clothes up from the floor. The opposite end has a smaller hook that can be used to pull up zippers.

Reacher

A reacher is an assistive device that allows a person to reach or pick up objects that otherwise would be difficult to grasp without bending or extending the body.

The device is often available in lengths ranging from 24 inches to 32 inches. One end of the reacher is usually a pistol-style handle. The other end is a claw that is triggered to latch onto an object.

Shoehorn

The shoehorn found in a hip kit is an extended version of a normal shoehorn. These shoehorns can range from 18 inches to 32 inches. The extended length allows a person to slip on shoes without bending over.

Long-Handled Bath Sponge

A long-handled bath sponge is an assistive device that allows a person who is showering to reach their feet, back, or other body parts without over-extending or bending. The long handle is usually plastic and approximately 2 feet long with a bath sponge attached.

Elastic Shoelaces

Elastic shoelaces are a great solution for people who want to continue wearing their tie shoes but are limited in their ability to bend down to tie them.

The elastic shoelaces are stretchable. This allows you to wear tie shoes as if they were slip-on shoes. The shoes stay laced and you slip the shoes on and off.

Other Assistive Devices

There are other assistive devices that will help you tremendously during the time that you must follow hip precautions.

For example:

• Walking aids, such as a walker, cane, or crutches.
• Raised toilet seat: This is a 2-inch to 5-inch plastic seat that allows you to sit higher on the toilet, making it easier to sit down and get up.
• Safety bars in the bathroom
• Non-slip mats in certain areas, such as inside and outside the bathtub

Your healthcare provider can provide you with a list of ways to prepare your home before surgery.