So you've just had a baby, and they are found to have a dislocated hip. Well, congratulations on the baby first off! Secondly, don't despair; this is not as uncommon as most would think. Whether this was from the actual birthing procedure or from something that has happened after, hip dislocations do occur and are relatively easy to correct. There are a few things that you can do to help your baby regain proper function of their hip.
Braces and harnesses
Braces aren't just for teeth! Hip braces can be used to help ease the hip back into the joint and facilitate it growing properly within the joint so that your baby will have no problems later in life. These braces are made in several different shapes and sizes, depending on the size of the baby and their conditions. They are normally meant to keep the hip in joint and immobile so that the hip joint has a chance to heal on its own. These braces are worn all the time for the first six weeks or so, which should give it time to heal properly. Then you can take it off and use exercises to continue to help you child with their range of motion. The doctor may ask that your baby wear their brace at nights for an extended period of time to make sure the hip has set properly.
Harnesses are very similar to braces, but these harnesses will span the entire body, instead of just on the hip where the dislocation occurred, like with the brace. These harnesses allow motion of the hip so that it does not stiffen up and become immobile
Exercises to promote correct function
There are exercises that you should be doing with your baby to make sure that they retain their range of motion with their hip. These are performed after the brace or harness has been removed, or when your child is only wearing the brace at night. These physiotherapy exercises include regular range of motion exercises, such as lifting the leg and lowering it, as well as side splaying, or the shifting of left and right as opposed to up and down. These exercises are performed so as to make sure that the hip does not stiffen up and become immobile after the brace is removed, requiring surgery to fix.
Extreme care
Because of the baby's hip dislocation, you will have to practice extreme care when dressing and moving your child around. Even feeding and diapering may be a little awkward at first, especially if you are dealing with a harness or brace. Be patient and make sure that you are careful when moving your baby's hip around, as over-extension can cause more damage to the hip.
There you are, three different ways that you can help to make your baby's recovery from a hip dislocation quicker and less painful. Of course, always consult with your doctor if you have any questions about the care of your child.
Share14 October 2015
As we age, our bones become more brittle and susceptible to breaking. Even the slightest fall can cause a hip to break and leave us paralyzed with pain. After a hip replacement, there are exercises that you should do. If you have recently had a hip replaced or know someone who has, this blog will help you find exercises and stretches that will help the hip to heal properly and quicker than it would if you did nothing more than the minimum. Hopefully, what I have learned will help you heal quickly and begin living your life as you did prior to the surgery.
