Direct answer
After hip arthroscopy for FAI or a labral tear, most people are off crutches within 2 to 6 weeks, back to daily activities by about 6 weeks, jogging from about 3 months, and back to sport between 4 and 7 months. Typical ranges:
- Day of surgery: home the same day on crutches, with a home exercise plan.
- Weeks 1–2: gentle range-of-motion work, stationary bike with the seat high, physiotherapy starting around week 2; desk work for many.
- Weeks 2–6: crutches come off as the limp resolves; driving once cleared, often 2–4 weeks; daily activities by about 6 weeks.
- Weeks 6–12: strength, balance, and swimming; physical jobs return.
- Months 3–4: jogging and sport-specific drills.
- Months 4–7: full sport once you pass your physiotherapist’s tests; pooled studies put the mean return at about 7 months.
This guide is for people booked for hip arthroscopy, usually for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) or a labral tear, and the family helping them plan. It walks through each phase of recovery, the milestones people ask about most, and the signs that mean you should call your care team.
The ranges below come from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Alberta Health Services, NHS hospital rehabilitation leaflets, and published reviews. Hip arthroscopy covers several different repairs, and your surgeon’s protocol depends on which ones you had.
The recovery timeline, phase by phase
| Phase | What typically happens | Your focus |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0–2 | Surgery takes place as day surgery for most healthy people. You spend 1–2 hours in recovery, go home on crutches, and someone stays with you the first night. You may shower after 24–48 hours. | Pain control, ankle pumps, gentle muscle activation, and keeping the incisions dry. |
| Weeks 1–2 | Protected weight bearing on crutches with the foot flat. Hip flexion is usually limited to about 90 degrees and rotation is restricted. A stationary bike with the seat raised starts early. Formal physiotherapy begins around week 2. | Restoring symmetrical movement, preventing scar tissue, home exercises 3–4 times a day. |
| Weeks 2–6 | You progress to full weight bearing and drop the crutches once you walk without a limp. Bruising and swelling settle. Driving returns once your surgeon clears you. Most people are back to daily activities by about 6 weeks. | Mini-squats, bridging, pool walking, soft-tissue work, and capsule stretching. |
| Weeks 6–12 | Hip movement is usually back to pre-operative levels. Swimming and active jobs resume. Some groin ache with activity is common. | Lunges, single-leg balance, treadmill walking, and gait correction. |
| Months 3–4 | Jogging and other medium-impact activity, then sport-specific drills. Heavy physical jobs resume around 3 months. | Power, endurance, agility, and the functional tests that decide readiness. |
| Months 4–7 | Return to contact and cutting sport once you have passed testing. Across pooled studies, athletes returned at a mean of about 7 months. | Sport-specific conditioning and a gradual build in training load. |
The day-surgery and recovery-room details come from the AAOS; the 6-week figure, showering guidance, and 2-week swimming restriction from Alberta Health Services; the 2-week, 6-week, 3-month, and 4-month milestones from the Royal Devon NHS rehabilitation leaflet; and the phase content from a 2024 systematic review of rehabilitation after arthroscopy for FAI.
How long will I be on crutches after hip arthroscopy?
Usually 2 to 6 weeks. The AAOS says crutches may only be needed until any limp resolves, and that after a more extensive procedure you may need them for 1 to 2 months. Pathway’s hip arthroscopy procedure page gives about 2 to 4 weeks for most patients, with limited weight bearing after a labral repair.
What you had done matters. A simple trim of the labrum or bone allows weight bearing sooner. A labral repair with anchors, a capsule repair, or any cartilage procedure means longer protection while the tissue heals. A 2023 Canadian systematic review of 24 studies found that 83% described some form of partial weight bearing after FAI surgery, and that the evidence is too thin to recommend one fixed protocol over another. In practice, that means your surgeon’s instructions, based on what was repaired, are the ones to follow.
The King’s College Hospital physiotherapy leaflet describes partial weight bearing as about 50% of body weight through the operated leg, with the surgeon setting the number of weeks. The Royal Devon leaflet, written for patients cleared for full weight bearing, expects most people to walk short distances without crutches by about 2 weeks.
Will I need a hip brace?
Some surgeons use one, usually for the first few weeks, to limit hip extension and rotation while the capsule and labrum heal. A 2024 systematic review found up to 40% of surgeons brace after hip arthroscopy, with wide variation in how long, and no high-quality evidence that it changes outcomes.
The first randomized trial, published in 2025, compared 3 weeks of full-time bracing with no brace after arthroscopic osteoplasty and labral repair in 82 patients. Pain scores at 6 weeks were similar in both groups, with no difference in function or complications at 6 months. If your surgeon prescribes a brace, wear it as instructed; if they do not, the evidence suggests you are missing little.
What does physiotherapy involve?
Physiotherapy is the backbone of hip arthroscopy recovery. The AAOS says it is necessary in most cases for the best result, and that your surgeon tailors the plan to the procedures performed. The 2024 systematic review above grouped published protocols into four phases:
- Joint protection (from surgery). Protected weight bearing, flexion limited to about 90 degrees with restricted rotation, stationary cycling, isometric muscle activation, and manual therapy to prevent adhesions.
- Progressive loading (roughly weeks 2–6). A gradual move to full weight bearing with mini-squats and bridging, aquatic therapy, soft-tissue work, and more intensive range-of-motion and capsule stretching.
- Restoring function (roughly weeks 6–12). Lunges, single-leg balance, treadmill walking, and anti-gravity treadmill running where available, with close attention to gait and movement patterns.
- Return to sport (month 3 onward). Power, endurance, and agility work such as box jumps and lateral cutting, with functional testing to confirm you can run, jump, and change direction without pain.
The review stresses that the phases are set by what your hip can do, with the week numbers as a guide. The King’s College Hospital leaflet gives a sense of the early workload: ten repetitions of each home exercise, three to four times a day, for the first two weeks, with supervised physiotherapy starting about 2 weeks after discharge.
Driving, desk work, and physical work
Driving
Two meta-analyses of brake reaction time give a consistent answer. A 2022 analysis of 160 patients, most treated for FAI, found braking back to pre-operative levels and concluded driving is likely safe as early as 2 to 4 weeks after a right-sided arthroscopy and 2 weeks after a left-sided one. A 2025 analysis of the same evidence recommends 4 weeks. Hospital leaflets vary from 1 to 2 weeks to 6 weeks. Wait until you are off strong pain medication, can press the brake hard without pain, and have your surgeon’s clearance, and check your insurer’s requirements.
Desk work
Alberta Health Services says you may return to desk work or your routine in a few days; the Royal Devon leaflet says sedentary jobs from 2 weeks. Long periods of sitting with the hip flexed can be uncomfortable early on, so plan to stand and move every 30 minutes or so and to work from home if you can.
Physical work
Alberta Health Services gives up to about 2 months for physical labour; the Royal Devon leaflet says active jobs from 6 weeks and very heavy jobs from 3 months. A 2023 meta-analysis of 1,124 patients found a mean return to work of 115 days, with people in light jobs significantly more likely to return than those in strenuous ones, and only about half back to their full previous duties at final follow-up.
When can I swim, run, and return to sport?
Swimming. Alberta Health Services advises no swimming or baths for the first 2 weeks, until the incisions have sealed. The Royal Devon leaflet lists swimming from 6 weeks as a low-impact activity. Pool walking often starts earlier under your physiotherapist’s guidance.
Running. The Royal Devon leaflet lists jogging from 3 months as a medium-impact activity, with twisting and contact sport still off limits at that point. Protocols in the rehabilitation review introduce anti-gravity or treadmill running in the third phase before outdoor running.
Return to sport. A meta-analysis of 1,296 patients found 84.6% returned to play at a mean of 7.4 months, and that the most common protocol recommendation was 4 months. A meta-analysis of 1,981 hips treated for FAI found 87.7% returned to sport, with a 1.7% complication rate. Among athletes who did not return, a 2021 review found persistent hip pain was the most common reason. Pathway’s procedure page gives full sport clearance at about 4 to 6 months. The test that matters is your physiotherapist’s, and your surgeon decides when you are cleared.
What changes your timeline
- What was repaired. Labral repair, capsule closure, and cartilage procedures need longer protection than a simple trim.
- The state of your cartilage. The AAOS notes that existing damage cannot always be reversed; hips with early arthritis recover more slowly and less completely.
- Your sport and your job. Cutting and contact sports and heavy physical work sit at the far end of every range.
- Rehabilitation. Trials in the rehabilitation review found supervised physiotherapy improved function scores at 14 weeks compared with usual care.
- Returning too early. The review warns that rushing back brings recurrent pain, while an overly cautious approach leaves you deconditioned. Your physiotherapist sets the pace.
Warning signs: when to call your care team
Complications after hip arthroscopy are uncommon. A 2018 systematic review of 2,850 patients found blood clots in 2.0%, with risk factors that included older age, higher body weight, long traction time, and oral contraceptives. Temporary groin numbness from traction is also possible. Alberta Health Services lists the signs to act on:
Call 911 if you pass out, have severe trouble breathing, or have sudden chest pain with shortness of breath or coughing up blood.
Call your surgeon, care team, or nurse advice line now for:
- Possible blood clot: pain in the calf, thigh, or groin, or redness and swelling in the leg or groin.
- Possible infection: increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the incisions, red streaks, pus, or a fever.
- Nerve or circulation problems: tingling, weakness, or numbness in the foot or toes, or a cold or discoloured foot.
- Wound problems: loose stitches, an incision that opens, or bleeding that soaks through the bandage.
- Pain that does not improve with your pain medication.
Your care team may give you a different contact plan; follow theirs.
Quick answers
How long does it take to recover from hip arthroscopy?
About 6 weeks for daily activities, 3 months for jogging, and 4 to 7 months for full sport. Desk work often returns within days to 2 weeks; physical work takes 6 weeks to 3 months. A labral repair takes longer than a simple trim.
How long are you on crutches after a labral tear repair?
Usually 2 to 6 weeks. Most people use crutches until they walk without a limp, and after a labral repair or a more extensive procedure protection can last 1 to 2 months. Your surgeon sets the weight-bearing plan based on what was repaired.
When can I drive after hip arthroscopy?
Brake-reaction studies suggest 2 to 4 weeks after a right-sided arthroscopy and about 2 weeks after a left-sided one, and one 2025 analysis recommends 4 weeks. Wait until you are off strong pain medication and have your surgeon’s clearance.
When can I run after hip arthroscopy?
Jogging usually starts around 3 months, after you have regained full movement and single-leg strength and can walk without a limp. Treadmill or anti-gravity running often comes first. Cutting, twisting, and contact sport wait until about 4 months or later.
What percentage of people return to sport after hip arthroscopy?
Pooled studies report 85% to 88% of athletes returning to sport, at a mean of about 7 months. Among those who did not return, persistent hip pain was the most common reason.
Questions to ask your surgeon
- Which repairs do you expect to do inside my hip, and how does each one change my weight-bearing plan?
- How many weeks on crutches, and at what percentage of my body weight?
- Will I wear a brace, and for how long?
- Which movements should I avoid in the first weeks, and until when?
- When should physiotherapy start, and can you recommend a physiotherapist experienced in hip arthroscopy rehabilitation?
- When do you usually clear patients to drive, return to my kind of work, and run?
- Which tests will decide when I can return to my sport?
- Who do I call after hours if I notice a warning sign?
If you are still deciding whether arthroscopy is the right operation, Pathway’s hip surgery overview compares arthroscopy with hip replacement, and the how it works page explains what happens between your first call and your follow-up.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo). Hip Arthroscopy. Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Alberta Health Services. Hip Arthroscopy: What to Expect at Home. MyHealth.Alberta.ca; current as of July 31, 2024. Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Rehabilitation after Hip Arthroscopy (patient leaflet, October 2023). Accessed October 20, 2026.
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Physiotherapy after hip arthroscopy (patient leaflet, April 2024). Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Monselli C, Bianco Prevot L, Accetta R, et al. State of the art in rehabilitation strategies after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: a systematic review. J Clin Med. 2024;13(23):7302.
- Hemstock R, Mulhall D, Didyk J, et al. Postoperative weight-bearing restrictions and rehabilitation protocols after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2023;10(3–4):220–227.
- Mavrommatis S, Feroe AG, Fader RR, Hassan MM. Postoperative brace use after hip arthroscopy: a systematic review. HSS J. 2024;20(4):550–555.
- Hagen MS, Meier E, Wigton C, et al. A randomized controlled trial of postoperative hip bracing after arthroscopic osteoplasty and labral repair for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Am J Sports Med. 2025;53(14):3332–3340.
- Assaf R, Mitchnik I, Beer Y, et al. Return to driving after hip arthroscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022;10(11):23259671221128281.
- Patel R, Sokhal BS, Fenton C, et al. Doctor when can I drive? A systematic review and meta-analysis of brake reaction time in patients returning to driving after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Hip Int. 2025; published online February 24, 2025.
- Blaeser AM, Mojica ES, Mannino BJ, Youm T. Return to work after primary hip arthroscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2023;51(5):1340–1346.
- O’Connor M, Minkara AA, Westermann RW, et al. Return to play after hip arthroscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(11):2780–2788.
- Minkara AA, Westermann RW, Rosneck J, Lynch TS. Systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes after hip arthroscopy in femoroacetabular impingement. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(2):488–500.
- Weber AE, Bolia IK, Mayfield CK, et al. Can we identify why athletes fail to return to sport after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2021;49(6):1651–1658.
- Haldane CE, Ekhtiari S, de Sa D, et al. Venous thromboembolism events after hip arthroscopy: a systematic review. Arthroscopy. 2018;34(1):321–330.
Health information notice: This article provides general information about typical recovery ranges after hip arthroscopy and cannot replace individual medical advice. Your surgeon and physiotherapist set your weight-bearing, movement, and return-to-activity plan based on what was repaired and how you heal.