Rehabilitation following hip arthroscopy.

The management of hip injuries has evolved significantly in recent years with the advancement of arthroscopic techniques. These recent surgical advances require establishment of rehabilitation protocols that follow several basic principles including (1) consideration of soft-tissue healing constraints, (2) control of swelling and pain to limit muscular inhibition and atrophy, (3) early range of motion, (4) limitations of weight bearing, (5) early initiation of muscle activity and neuromuscular control, (6) progressive lower extremity strengthening and proprioceptive retraining, (7) cardiovascular training, and (8) sport-specific training. The following protocols should not be considered a cookbook approach to rehabilitation, rather guidelines that are used to achieve consistent outcomes. These guidelines will continue to evolve as we learn more about the hip joint and surrounding musculature.