Percussive vs. Gentle Massage for Recovery After Hip Replacement

Many people who have hip replacement surgery through a "bikini incision" on the front ofthe hip (anterior approach) develop numbness, tingling, burning, or tightness in thefront and side of the thigh afterward. This happens because a small nerve near theincision can get irritated during surgery. For most patients these symptoms fade overtime, but for some they can last for months or longer.This study is testing whether a simple, at‐home self‐care routine can help these symptomsimprove faster. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group willuse a handheld percussive massage device (like a massage gun) on the thigh twice a day,and the other group will do gentle hand massage on the same areas, for the same amount oftime, twice a day. Both routines take about 5 minutes and are done every day for 6 weeksafter surgery. Neither device use nor massage is applied directly on or near the surgicalincision.The researchers want to find out whether the massage device works better than gentle handmassage for improving hip pain and function, reducing numbness and tingling, andimproving sleep and comfort during recovery. Participants will complete shortquestionnaires and daily logs, with follow‐up visits at 6 weeks and 3 months aftersurgery.