Do hip precautions after hip replacement prevent dislocation?
Short answerProbably not. In studies that compared people told to follow movement restrictions with people who were not, dislocations were about equally rare.
Evidence grade
Does not helpNot enough evidenceHelps a littleGood evidence
Probably does not help
What it is
Hip precautions are rules that people are given after a hip replacement, usually for six weeks. They commonly include not bending the hip past a right angle, not crossing the legs and not twisting the leg in or out. They are meant to protect the new joint while the tissues heal.
What the research shows
with 6,900 people having a hip replacement through the back of the hip, the posterior approach, compared people given restrictions with people given none. Dislocation occurred in 2.2 in 100 of the restricted group and 2.0 in 100 of the unrestricted group, which was not a significant difference. Patient-reported scores for function, confidence and pain did not differ in all but one of the studies. Not all of the studies were randomised.
looked at hip replacement through the side of the hip. It found two randomised trials, with 81 and 265 people. Neither showed a benefit of precautions in preventing dislocation. Restrictions were linked to a slower return to usual activities and lower satisfaction.
Newer evidence. Three reviews published since point the same way. A review of 9,599 hips found dislocation in 2.2 in 100 with precautions and 2.2 in 100 with minimal or no restrictions . A review of 8,835 people found there may be no or negligible difference in early dislocation, with low certainty evidence . A review of 3 randomised trials with 1,215 people found no difference in dislocation, and people without precautions scored slightly better on a hip function questionnaire and stopped using walking aids sooner . These findings do not change the grade.
What the Australian joint registry shows
The Australian joint registry does not record whether people followed hip precautions. It does show how often hips are redone because they dislocate. With a standard socket about 4 in 1,000 hips were redone for dislocation in the first year. A dual mobility socket, which has an extra moving liner, halved the risk of being redone for dislocation, and larger ball sizes also lowered it .
Hips put in through the back were redone for dislocation more often than hips put in through the front, about 1 in 100 compared with 3 in 1,000 by 9 years. These figures count hips that needed another operation, not every dislocation.
Risks and effort
Restrictions can make daily tasks harder, and some people need extra equipment. Your surgeon may still give you advice that suits your own hip, for example if there was a problem during surgery or if you have had a dislocation.
Yes. The reviews describe groups of patients. Your surgeon knows the details of your operation.
Does the surgical approach matter?
The reviews covered the posterior approach and the side approach. Ask your surgeon what applies to the approach used for you.
What if I have had a dislocation before?
These studies were of first operations. Ask your surgeon for specific advice.
How common is dislocation after a hip replacement?
It is uncommon. In the reviews of people who had a hip replacement through the back of the hip, about 2 in 100 had a dislocation, whether or not they were given movement restrictions. In the Australian joint registry, about 4 in 1,000 hips with a standard socket needed another operation for dislocation in the first year .
Are the precautions different after the anterior (front) approach?
Hip precautions were designed mainly for the back approach, and most of the research on them is in that approach. Many surgeons give fewer restrictions, or none, after a front approach. A 2025 review of 27 studies with 44,477 people found dislocation rates were similar after the front and back approaches, though it included studies that were not randomised . See Does the anterior approach to hip replacement speed recovery? Your surgeon will tell you what applies to your operation.
How long do I need to follow hip precautions?
When they are given, they usually last about six weeks while the tissues heal. The reviews have not found that following them lowers the chance of dislocation, so some surgeons now give shorter or lighter restrictions. Follow the advice you are given for your own hip.
How hard is it to dislocate a new hip?
For most people it is hard. In the reviews, about 98 in 100 people did not dislocate, with or without restrictions. The risk is higher if a hip has dislocated before or if there were problems during the operation, which is why your surgeon may still give you specific advice.
Sources
Select a source to read what the study or guideline found, in plain words, with a link to the original.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Next review due October 2028.
