Individuals who have recently had a hip fracture or hip replacement surgery are usually instructed to avoid which motion of the hip?

Abduction - moving the limb away from the body's midline - is generally permitted after hip replacement and is often incorporated into early rehabilitation exercises.

Hip extension is part of normal gait mechanics and is not restricted by standard post-operative hip precautions following replacement surgery.

The posterior surgical approach, which is the most commonly used technique in total hip replacement, compromises the posterior capsule and external rotator muscles, leaving the joint vulnerable to dislocation when internally rotated. Combining internal rotation with flexion and adduction creates the highest dislocation risk, so internal rotation is a standard component of post-operative hip precautions. These restrictions protect the healing soft tissues and the newly implanted hardware during the critical recovery period.

External rotation is not restricted and is actually considered a safer position for the replaced hip, reducing rather than increasing dislocation risk.