Why do I still limp after my hip replacement, and will it go away?

Last reviewed: September 29, 2026

Usually it fades. A limp is common in the first months after a hip replacement, and for most people it gets much better.

The main reason is the muscles on the side of the hip, which keep the pelvis level with each step. Arthritis often weakens them before surgery, and surgery can disturb them further. How they work often stays below normal for months, sometimes a year or longer. Studies disagree widely on how many people still limp after a year. The surgical approach made little difference to limping two years or more after surgery.

A lasting limp matters. In a large registry study, people who still limped were less satisfied with their hip.

Less often, a limp has a specific cause: a difference in leg length, a torn tendon on the side of the hip, an injured nerve, or, rarely, a loose or infected implant.

Studies have not clearly shown that exercise makes a limp go away sooner. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, supervised therapy and exercising at home are both reasonable choices after a hip replacement.

In general:

• A limp that keeps improving is part of recovery.
• A limp that gets worse instead of better is worth reporting to your surgeon.
• A new limp with pain on the side of the hip, a foot that drags, or a hip that feels unstable needs to be seen.
• A limp with fever or pain at rest needs to be seen promptly.

Drafted with AI assistance from published sources, reviewed and edited by Babak Sheikh, MD.

Sources:

• Bonnefoy-Mazure A, et al. Limping and Patient Satisfaction After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Registry-Based Cohort Study. Acta Orthop. 2022. https://doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2022.3489
• Pongcharoen B, Chaichubut K. Limping Following Primary Total Hip Replacement: Comparison of 3 Surgical Approaches. JB JS Open Access. 2019. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.OA.18.00043
• Wood TJ, et al. Nuisance Symptoms in Total Joint Arthroplasty: Prevalence and Impact on Patient Satisfaction. J Arthroplasty. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2019.10.034
• Zhong L, et al. Gait Kinetics Before and After Total Hip Arthroplasty in People With Unilateral Hip Osteoarthritis. PLoS One. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326502
• May MC, et al. Electromyography After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review of Neuromuscular Alterations and Functional Movement Patterns. J Clin Med. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15010400
• Pearce AN, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment Options of Abductor Insufficiency After Total Hip Replacement. Orthop Clin North Am. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocl.2022.03.001
• Odak S, Ivory J. Management of Abductor Mechanism Deficiency Following Total Hip Replacement. Bone Joint J. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.95B3.31098
• Di Martino A, et al. A Nerve Injury After Total Hip Arthroplasty From Etiology to Treatment: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020563
• Hannon CP, et al. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline Summary: Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00420
• Madsen MN, et al. Hip Strengthening Exercise Dosage Is Not Associated With Clinical Improvements After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study (the PHETHAS-1 Study). BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-08057-x

This is general information about what published research shows. It is not medical advice and it is not about your situation. Reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship with me. I am a retired orthopedic surgeon and I do not see patients. Talk with your own doctor before changing anything about your care. If something feels suddenly or seriously wrong, get medical care promptly rather than waiting.

This page is provided as is. I make no guarantee that it is accurate, complete or current, and medical evidence changes. Use of it is at your own risk.

Published by Clinical Evidence Media LLC. Full disclaimer and how these answers are researched: Disclaimer and how these answers are made