Ski Prohibition Eased—A Little (to ski or not to ski—after a joint replacement)

[Justin]

Ski Prohibition Eased—A Little

Orthopedics This Week
Biloine W. Young • Wed, Feb 16th, 2011
Copyright 2009 - 2011 RRY Publications

To ski or not to ski—after a joint replacement—is the question. Bruce Alemian, an alpine skier in his 70s with two worn-out knees, feared that his skiing days were over. So did his orthopedic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital who replaced the aging knees and advised against skiing. What if he had a fall? Twisted his knee?

But Alemian found that he could not so easily walk away from the ski slopes. Four years after his last surgery he began skiing on easy trails. There he found others like himself, with implanted knees and hips, flying down the hills.

There was Bruce McDonald, 68, head of the ski school at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, who had had two hip replacement surgeries and disc-fusion surgery. And Mike O’Gara who, eight months after surgery for a new hip, was the No. 1-ranked NASTAR skier for his age group in New Hampshire, and winner of the prestigious Hannes Schneider Memorial race.

According to a February 10 report in the Boston Globe, as body part replacement becomes commonplace in an aging generation, doctors and physical therapists are moving away from their automatic opposition to downhill skiing.

“What I tell my patients with total hip and total knee replacement is if you’ve never skied, or you’re a lousy skier, it’s probably not a good thing to try to pick up or improve,’’ said Dr. Thomas Thornhill, chairman of orthopedic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “If you’re a good skier, or you don’t feel you have to ski moguls or in icy conditions—that’s perfectly all right.’’

One of Thornhill’s patients is Dr. Eli Factor, a Brockton dentist who had two hip replacements in his mid-60s and wondered about his future in skiing. Now 80, Factor, who skied until last year, remembers the advice he received. “Most of medicine absolutely said no.” he said.

Factor spent the next 25 years at the sport and founded the “Steel Hipsters Ski Club of America’’ which sends out newsletters keeping members current on the state of replacement surgery as it applies to skiers.

Thornhill, who skis and plays tennis, said there have been many changes since the early days of joint replacement. “With shaped skis that are easier to turn you stay in better control,’’ he said. “The skis are shorter, and that’s easier on the joints. People who skied in the old days probably had to be better. Now I think people can rely more on their equipment than their talent.”

[Gilbert P]

Yea

I know many people with new hips and knees that started to ski again and ski better than before with no issues.

Gil

[KBear]

I think this article nails it, if you are an experienced skier, then you can most likely ski again. Whereas if you are like me and are not an experienced skier (I totally busted my a$$ getting off the bunny hill lift), then you should'nt try to learn after surgery. I have zero desire to ever ski again, that was the biggest beating I ever had. On the last run I did, I just about went into a tree and that sealed the deal for me to never do it again.... I just lack the coordination.

[Gilbert P]

Hi KBear

LOL I am skiing a little to watch my son ski race, Being very good at skiing I am able to manage but if a beginner skier no way, I do know some who have skied with ARD

Gil

[KenG]

Hi, no beginner sking after ADR ? I may get back to it in near future, carefully

I would like to do it in Hokkaido or, Whistler someday.

[KanRunMo]

I'm an occasional skiier. Since I live in the flatlands, it takes a special effort to get to ski country. I don't find skiing any harder on your knees and hips than the other sports I do like tennis and golf. I have not had an ADR so I can't respond to that. Once joints are healed, people seem to do pretty much what they did before. I think aging is much harder on joints than most sports. My brother who lives in ski country and is a good skiier, suggests everyone take a half day lesson at the start of each ski season. A lesson in how to fall and not hurt yourself is probably the best lesson. Pick a day and time when the slopes aren't busy because snow boarders are what's dangerous.

[bigdogchief76]

We used to live out in Denver. We were avid skiers. When I first started having my back problems I never noticed issues if I skied (not in my back area). I had more issues in my knee and hips then anything else. If you ski correctly your back shouldn't have a lot of load bearing on it. I couldn't imagine trying to ski right now though. It will be interesting to see what things I will be able to do again.

For now I'm simply looking forward to taking my daughters to the zoo and walking with them again. That will be the first thing I do. Second will be an all-night catfishing excursion with a good friend. Ah, I can't wait!

[New-disc]

I think this article nails it, if you are an experienced skier, then you can most likely ski again. Whereas if you are like me and are not an experienced skier (I totally busted my a$$ getting off the bunny hill lift), then you should'nt try to learn after surgery. I have zero desire to ever ski again, that was the biggest beating I ever had. On the last run I did, I just about went into a tree and that sealed the deal for me to never do it again.... I just lack the coordination.

K,

I'm with ya on the skiing thing... trees don't have much give to them... Yikes!!

I'll stick with snowshoeing..

[ajj1001]

I skied a few times pre ADR and went back when I was fully recovered. I did have some lessons to check my technique and had no problems. no black runs though. glad I did now as it looks unlikely I'll ever get back to it again, well at least stood up on two separate skis.

[KBear]

Hi KBear

LOL I am skiing a little to watch my son ski race, Being very good at skiing I am able to manage but if a beginner skier no way, I do know some who have skied with ARD

Gil

I think that's exactly it. If I was a great skier, I would probably do it again. In my case, I decided that death by flying into a tree at an uncontrollable speed was just not how I wanted to go. And that was in Angel Fire, NM, where the mountains aren't even that big- LOL.