Hip surgery physiotherapy. Patient's legs during physiotherapy after a double hip replacement. The surgical stockings help the flow of blood through the leg veins back to the heart, and help prevent unwanted formation of blood clots (thrombosis). The patient is carefully exercising the hip joints by moving the legs from side to side on the board, which is a low-friction board. This keeps the hip muscles in use, but puts minimal pressure on the newly-implanted artificial joint. Recovery times from hip surgery varies, but can take many weeks.