After a hip replacement, which practice should clients avoid?

After a hip replacement, clients should avoid crossing their legs due to the potential risk of dislocating the hip joint. This position can place the hip in an unstable alignment, especially in the early stages of recovery when the surrounding soft tissues are still healing. Crossing the legs can compromise the stability of the new joint and lead to complications, which is why it's typically advised to maintain a neutral position of the legs.

In contrast, while some degree of stretching may be beneficial following a hip replacement, crossing the legs specifically creates a higher risk for injury and should be strictly avoided. Other practices, like general hip stretching, hamstring stretching, or bending the knee past 90 degrees, may be acceptable or require careful monitoring, depending on individual recovery guidelines and the recommendations of a healthcare provider. However, crossing the legs is a clear movement that explicitly poses a risk in the post-operative phase.