How to Sleep After Hip Replacement: Positions, Recliners and Bed Setup

Quick answer: After a hip replacement, several hospital guides say to sleep on your back at first. If side sleeping is allowed, use a pillow between your legs, and don't bend your hip past 90 degrees or cross your legs. Hospitals disagree on which side is safe and for how long, so follow the instructions from your own surgeon and therapist. Set up the bed before surgery so it is high enough that your knees stay lower than your hips when you sit on the edge.

This article covers sleeping. For the steps of getting up, see our companion guide on how to get out of bed after hip replacement.

What is the best sleeping position after hip replacement?

Two of the hospital guides we checked tell patients to sleep on their back in the early weeks. Leeds Teaching Hospitals tells patients who follow hip precautions, "You should sleep on your back for six weeks." (Leeds Teaching Hospitals) The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) says "it is advisable to remain sleeping on your back for the first month after your operation." (RNOH) MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, says not to sleep on your stomach. (MedlinePlus)

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says that, depending on your surgery, "your doctor may ask you to avoid certain sleeping positions or to sleep with a pillow between your legs for a period of time," and to ask which positions are safest for you. (AAOS OrthoInfo)

Can you sleep on your side after hip replacement?

It depends on your hospital's instructions, and hospitals don't agree on which side. Four patient guides say:

MedlinePlus and RNOH give opposite advice about which side to lie on. So the answer that counts is the one from your own surgical team. RNOH explains that the movement limits after surgery, called hip precautions, are recommended for people at higher risk of the hip dislocating, and that your surgeon will tell you how long to follow them. (RNOH) AAOS says precautions "will vary from patient to patient, depending on the surgical approach your surgeon used." (AAOS OrthoInfo)

How long do you have to sleep on your back after hip replacement?

Usually several weeks, but the exact time comes from your surgeon. Leeds says six weeks, and RNOH says the first month. (Leeds; RNOH) RNOH puts the usual time frame for hip precautions at 6 to 12 weeks, depending on how stable the hip is after surgery. AAOS says precautions for sitting, bending or sleeping usually apply for the first 6 weeks, and that most patients should be able to do most of the "don'ts" after 6 to 8 weeks. (AAOS OrthoInfo; AAOS activities guide)

Rules that apply while you sleep

The same hip precautions you follow during the day apply in bed. Common ones from MedlinePlus and AAOS:

• Don't cross your legs or ankles when you are lying down. (MedlinePlus)
• Avoid bending your hip more than 90 degrees, a right angle. (MedlinePlus)
• Don't reach down to pull up blankets when lying in bed. (AAOS)
• A special abductor pillow or splint may be used to keep your hip in the proper alignment. (MedlinePlus)

To manage covers without bending, Leeds suggests rolling your bedding to the side before you get in, and RNOH notes that a duvet is easier than blankets and that a walking stick can help you pull covers up or push them down. (Leeds; RNOH)

Can you sleep in a recliner after hip replacement?

Check with your surgical team first, because several hospital guides advise against using a recliner's recline feature. Leeds tells patients, "Do not use the recline action of a recliner chair," or any built-in footstool. (Leeds) Concord Hospital's hip replacement guide says to avoid recliner or rocking chairs. (Sydney Local Health District) MedlinePlus recommends a firm chair with a straight back and armrests, says to avoid soft chairs, rocking chairs, stools and sofas, and says your hips should be higher than your knees when you sit. (MedlinePlus)

In general equipment advice that isn't about surgery, the disability charity DLF says that sleeping during the night in a standard electric recliner "is not generally recommended, except where there is no other option." (DLF Living Made Easy) If you were told a recliner is fine for you, ask how far it may recline and how long you can stay in it.

How to set up your bed before surgery

AAOS suggests doing these things before your surgery.

• Check the height. RNOH says the ideal bed height depends on your height, and that if the bed is too low you could add another mattress on top. Leeds says that when you sit, your knees should always be lower than your hips. (RNOH; Leeds) Our guide to the best bed height for seniors shows how to measure.
• Move the bedroom if you need to. AAOS suggests that if you have stairs, you may temporarily change rooms, for example making the living room your bedroom. (AAOS)
• Keep things within reach. AAOS suggests placing your phone and charger, remote, glasses, water bottle, reading material and medications within easy reach so you don't have to reach up or bend down.
• Clear the floor. AAOS advises removing throw rugs that could cause you to slip and fastening electrical cords to the walls or baseboards.
• Plan the night route. Our guide to why older adults fall out of bed covers lighting and other bedroom safety steps.

Swelling and warning signs at night

AAOS says to expect moderate to severe swelling in the first few weeks, and that elevating your leg slightly and applying ice can reduce it. It lists these warning signs of a blood clot: pain in your leg or calf that is not related to your incision, tenderness or redness above or below your knee, and severe swelling that does not go away when you elevate your leg. Shortness of breath or sudden chest pain can mean a clot has traveled to the lungs. AAOS says to tell your doctor immediately if you develop any of these signs. (AAOS OrthoInfo)

If getting in and out of bed stays hard

Ask your therapist about bed height and equipment before you go home. Some families also look at beds that raise the person toward standing or turn them to the edge of the bed. Our guide to the best beds for seniors with mobility issues explains the types, and you can browse EzLift lift beds. A bed is not a treatment, and it doesn't replace your surgeon's or therapist's instructions.

Recovering from a knee replacement instead? See our guide to how to sleep after knee replacement.

FAQ

Can I sleep on my side after hip replacement?

Only if your surgeon says so. Hospital guides differ: MedlinePlus says not to sleep on the side of your new hip, while RNOH says that after the first month you may sleep on your operated side and should avoid your non-operated side. If you lie on your side, MedlinePlus, AAOS and Concord Hospital mention a pillow between your legs.

How long should I sleep on my back after hip replacement?

Leeds Teaching Hospitals says six weeks and RNOH says the first month. Your surgeon will tell you how long your own precautions last.

Can I sleep in a recliner after hip replacement?

Ask your surgical team. Leeds says not to use the recline action of a recliner chair, and Concord Hospital says to avoid recliners and rocking chairs.

What kind of bed is best after hip replacement?

One that lets you sit on the edge with your knees lower than your hips and get up without twisting or bending past 90 degrees. Ask your therapist to check your bed height before surgery.

Sources

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo, "Activities After Hip Replacement": https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/recovery/activities-after-hip-replacement/
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo, "Total Hip Replacement": https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-hip-replacement/
• MedlinePlus, "Taking care of your new hip joint" (review date 11/7/2024): https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000171.htm
• Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, "A Patient's Guide to Hip Precautions Following Primary or Revision Total Hip Replacement": https://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-guides/patients-guide-hip-precautions-following-primary-or-revision-total-hip-replacement
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, "Total Hip Replacement: A guide to your rehabilitation": https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/patients/resources/total-hip-replacement-a-guide-to-your-rehabilitation/
• Sydney Local Health District, Concord Hospital, "Total Hip Replacement" patient guide: https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/concord/orthopaedics/pdf/TotalHipReplacement.pdf
• DLF Living Made Easy, "Choosing a chair and chair accessories": https://livingmadeeasy.org.uk/dlf-factsheets/choosing-a-chair-and-chair-accessories

Written by the EzLift Team, EzLift's organizational authorship team. Last reviewed November 3, 2026. This guide summarizes published patient instructions; it is not medical advice. Your surgeon's and therapist's instructions come first, because precautions differ by surgery and by person.