Lots of my patients are keen skiers, and most of them would like to continue to ski after their hip surgery. Whether or not this is a good idea is open to debate! A high speed fall might cause a dislocation, or even break the bones around the hip, but this might happen even if you had never had hip surgery. I use large bearing implants which are very resistant to dislocation, and the materials are very durable. A recent article in The Gazette from Colorado Springs described how Charles Elliott (96) returned to skiing 6 months after a hip replacement.
‘At first he tottered gingerly from edge to edge like a beginner. Then, realizing his new hip was strong and stable, he began carving from side to side in long, elegant turns. Where strength had faded over the years, grace took over. He turned down a bumpy blue run, slipping easily through small moguls.
At the bottom, his hip was feeling so good that he decided to do it again.
And again.
He hopes to ski 15 days in this season.
‘I didn’t think it would be possible for anyone to ski until 100 he said at the end of his third run, but now that’s only four years away, I just might make it.’
A remarkable story. If you want to ski after hip surgery, my advice is to:
- Make sure that you are fit enough before you go
- Choose a time when the slopes will be less crowded (out of the school holidays)
- Avoid difficult runs, moguls and ice
Have fun!
