How much walking should I do?

[papalagidiver]

Hello everyone,
Today is my 5th day home and I wonder how much walking should I do.  Is it possible to overdo and slow down the recovery?  I am feeling great and take one pain killer at night to help me sleep.  My doctor told me to stay on crutches for 6 weeks to protect the femoral neck or something like that.  Can I walk on the street with crutches or is it too early?

Mark

[Pat Walter]

It is possible to over do!   You are early on in your recovery.  Walking is good for you, but remember however far you go away - you have to return.  If you over do you walking, you could end up with more pain and swelling.  So take it easy for now.  I don't think it is a problem to walk on the street - just don't go too far now.  Pace yourself. In a few weeks, you will be walking much more and just listen to your body.  If you get too tired, hurt or have swelling, back off a bit.

Good Luck.

Pat

[ScubaDuck]

I don't think you can do any permanent damage walking.  The biggest problem is if you have pain and swelling that prevents you from doing your exercises or walking more later.  I would do several shorter walks rather than one long one.  Then you should be able to increase until you can combine two walks into one.

Best wishes.

Dan

[maxx6789]

i wondered this question, too. not sure there is a single answer. but, i agree with pat, you can overdo it and should listen to your body.

for me, during the first 6 weeks, i took three walks each day. in the beginning, they were short (the first day it was to the end of the driveway) but i quickly increased them overtime. after about 10 days, each walk was about 20 to 30 minutes. i could have walked further but didn't see the real need. the weather during my recovery (early fall) made it nice and enjoyable to be outside ... not sure i would have been as consistent during the colder months.

[Tin Soldier]

I think I slowed down my recovery when I walked 7 miles at 4 weeks.  I had a lot of pain in the front of the hip, like a labral tear-sort of pain and it stuck around for a few weeks.  The PT had to change some of the workouts I did.  If I had taken it a bit easier I think my initial recovery would have been shorter.  At this point (3 months) though I think I'm pretty much healed on the soft tissue. 

On the other hand, I hear most folks saying that walking is probably the best PT you can do.  I have to agree as long as it's moderate.  Good luck.

[curt]

     In the early stages, I agree that walking is the best therapy, but instead of "more is better" as a philosophy (which probaby got lots of us in trouble), focus on being consistent and measured.  Your soft tissue will thank you.

Curt