Almost all Alpha Hip and Alpha Knee patients can return home on the day of surgery. You will need to demonstrate that you can safely walk, manage basic activities, control your pain prior to going home.


Returning to an active lifestyle is one of the major goals of joint replacement. The majority of our patients return to lower demand activities within the first month and full activity by 2-3 months.  Your surgeon can help you decide when a specific activity is appropriate.

An Alpha surgeon is committed to a comprehensive philosophy of joint replacement centered on muscle-sparing surgical techniques, patient-specific placement of implants, modern technology, perioperative optimization, multimodal pain management, and early mobility. 

Alpha surgeons emphasize the subvastus approach to the knee and anterior anterior approach to the hip. Just as importantly, Alpha surgeons collaborate and share techniques, protocols, and outcomes with the goal of continuall improving the patient experience.

Many Alpha surgeons use modern navigation or robotic technology to help evaluate individual patient alignment and implant positioning. Technology is a tool—the Alpha surgeon remains responsible for planning and performing the operation.

Some pain and swelling are normal after joint replacement. Our Alpha protocols address pain management in several different ways before, during and after surgery.  Our goal is not to promise a pain-free operation, but to make discomfort minimal and manageable so you can begin moving and recovering early.  Our goal is to help you avoid opioid use throughout recovery.  Many patients have noted that their Alpha surgery has been less painful compared to prior surgeries. 

After surgery we focus on a balance between physical therapy and healing.  Therapy will begin prior to surgery to help prepare you for recovery.  This will often be done through a home based program with remote therapy guidance.  After surgery Alpha focuses on early motion and swelling control, followed by progressive mobility and strengthening.  Some patients may pursue more frequent in-person therapy visits while others enroll in home-based therapy with remote therapist assistance.  In between therapy sessions and exercises, it is important to rest, elevate, and ice the soft tissues around your joint replacement.

The subvastus approach allows the surgeon to access the knee by working underneath the inner portion of the quadriceps rather than cutting through it. After a subvastus knee replacement patients stop using a walker sooner, have quicker return of motion, and report less pain.

Most patients undergoing anterior hip replacement do not require any motion restrictions.  However, postoperative instructions may vary for specific patients. You should always follow the specific instructions given by your surgeon.