What advice should be given to a patient after a total hip replacement?

After a total hip replacement, encouraging short, frequent walks is essential for promoting healing and recovery. Walking helps to improve circulation, strengthen the muscles around the hip joint, and prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis. It also aids in regaining mobility and independence in daily activities. Short walks are especially beneficial because they allow the patient to increase their activity level gradually without overexerting themselves, which is crucial in the early stages of post-operative recovery.

The other options suggest actions that can be detrimental to a patient's recovery following a total hip replacement. For instance, keeping legs crossed while sitting can place undue stress on the hip joint, leading to dislocation or discomfort. Lowering the chair height could make it more challenging for the patient to sit down and stand up, which is not advisable as it may increase the risk of falls. Similarly, bending forward while sitting may also put the hip at risk of dislocation and go against post-operative precautions typically recommended to ensure stability and safety. Therefore, encouraging short, frequent walks is the optimal advice to facilitate rehabilitation and enhance mobility for the patient after a hip replacement procedure.