Running on replacements hey

I was told not to run or jump out of planes. I have no idea but I fast walk for 3-5 miles a day with my dog

I was  told last week by consultant - no high impact activity -running or jumping- 1 year check up after THR . No heavy lifting or manual labour-as a 74 year old lady. I do hike and also swim

In North Carolina here-- so not sure if you might find physical therapists who do this:  The Physical Therapists I see (had one THR Feb 17) have a "Return to running" program for those interested.  

I am a librarian so I just had to snoop a bit online and came away with these bits of info:  a.  most surgeons do not recommend running for THR or knee replacements

              b/c  -- only so many "miles" on replacement parts so the high impact of    

              running isn't "cost effective"  as you may find you need to replace the  

              replacements in the next 15 to 20 years OR "sooner than the that bc of the        

              wear put on them by running"

         b.  different take on the idea of running:  "Check with your surgeon first"  knows

              best what you have had put in, etc. etc.

         c.  another site called "Runner's World"  says start v-e-r-y-  c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y  

              "limit your distance and amount of time running"

My physical feeling with my one THR is that upon sitting down in a too unthinking way-- I feel as if I have a wallet or somethng that size that I'm sitting on-- actually, of course, it is the metal part of my upper femur!  Doesn't hurt, just makes itself known.  I do find when I'm tired that I sit with my feet on the floor, but invariably my feet end up on tippy toe-- shortening tired muscles? lengthening/stretching some?  who knows...

Is it really sensible to be even considering running when the general consensus of opinion is that any unnecessary impact activity will shorten the life of your prosthesis.

I've had twenty very good years from mine and many people can hardly beleive what I have got up to but you know what, I would not run unless it was an absolute emergency like being about to be run down crossing a road.

Please treat your new hip as a new chance of independence not to be squandered.

Take good care.

Cheers Richard

Hi Moose,

Many from golfing to many other sports can resume life after hip replacement as long as its discussed with the surgeon before and after surgery. Training after implant to establish strength and function in muscles and tendons to safely return to the sport without the risk of implant failure before it's time is important. Common sense and precautions with learning what you are capapable of doing is the key. Changes in movement are different and I never could ride fast or climb mountains again, just a small adjustment,but I could ride. Be cautious and a healthy amount of fear to protect the implant above all is a good thing. Sometimes adjustments to how to play the sport needs to be changed.

On average most implants last 20 years depending on how active one is over a period of time & mine will soon need a new cup in the 20 year old implant. The cup wear is generally from movement, wear and tear .

I have a hip implant 20 yrs old. Early in the recovery stages planning to get back into my sport ridding in Endurance racing was important.  I changed the breed of horse after hip surgery to the Tennessee Walker horses. They had a gentle rocking side to side gate when in their running gate which is a natural normal easy gate for Tenn Walkers. The easy chair of the horse world, no heavy bounce or stress on the hip joints. I had switched from riding Arabians with a slam in saddle bouncing up/down gate inherit in that breed.My surgeon was ok with the change in horses and gates which was easier on the hip implant. We discussed this and skiing before surgery and the implant was also heavier and stabilized with several screws. Also I had worked hard to get leg muscles back and strong before attempting riding or skiing. It took about 8 months until I felt confident to riding again or skiing slowly. Baby steps, until one day it all became natural again. 

My answers maybe a bit unconventional I was young in shape and had the energy to take on that type of challenge. Sometimes we need to change our gate from the stress on joints from running to walking at first, even better riding a bike great way to build leg muscle and tendons. Even swimming to work up to running. Who knows you may find a pace right for you. Some runners wear spring shoes with hip implants and knee problems, they take the pressure off the hip and knee per square inch as the impact is absorbed in the spring and special arches in the shoes .

We don't need to stop the things we love to do, a change in how we do it and special training is important to find what works, we are all individuals. I was instructed by my surgeon to find a horse with a gentle gate , post when I ride and wear special back & hip supports when riding. It takes time to get it worked out. I still have that first hip implant. I adjusted the type of riding to no more mountain climbing or jumping. Shorter time riding. Just did not want the risks. Basically changed to easy trails and champagne races in the ring. Managed riding with a hip implant thru many adjustments and still enjoyed the sport. 

Everyone has different goals, talk with your surgeon. Ask for contacts with other runners who have had implants and talk with them. Always give it a try, who knows people run marathons all the time with many types of disabilities. It's all in the possibilities waiting for us to discover. 😊

 

dear moose, 

warm welcome  to this hippies forum -

I am not really sure what you mean ... is it instead of heel to toe, just on toes running?

were you a runner before your THR surgery .... 

maybe you can find a physical therapist who can help you - 

come back here and let us know how you are getting on okay ..

very interesting ...

big warm hug

renee

I would imagine that running on your toes gives less impact to your knees and hips, the ankle joint is taking the stresses and initial jolt in each step. Maybe it's your own body encouraging this gait, what it feels most comfortable with. Even unconciously, your body is looking after the weakker joints and protecting them.

Seriously, I would consider taking up cycling. Great exercise, less strain on the joints and you get further !

There is a book called "how to run with a hip replacement" by Alistair McAlpine which suggests some techniques to make this possible and limit wear and tear.  I'm waiting for my hip replacement in a few weeks and am keen to resume running post surgery at an an appropriate point in my recovery.  My surgeon told me that the official line is not to run with a hip replacement as it can wear the implant faster but he has plenty of patients who still continue even running marathons as they prefer to continue enjoying this activity and take the risk on the wear and tear. I'm 49 so would like to stay active and anyway am likely to need a replacement down the line and maybe at that point I hang up my running shoes.  I'd speak to your surgeon to discuss further.  Good luck.  

Hi, I was told no high impact anything.  I enjoy fast paced walking (with my dog) each day, and swimming.

Hi Moose, I was told by my surgeon not to continue running on hard surfaces, and he told me that running had probably contributed to my hip problems. He's fine about me running for a bus though, and I know just what you mean about it feeling really weird. Initially I couldn't really run at all, but now it's getting a bit easier. (I'm nearly 11 months post op, but only had 1 hip replaced.) Good luck with what you decide to do. I swim regularly, cycle to work,and I've continued skiing.