Is it time for a new knee?
So just how active can you
be with a new knee?
Here’s one way to answer
that question: You better
know where you stashed
your workout clothes.
Now that you can move freely
again, your provider will likely
encourage you to stay in shape
with low-impact activities, such
as swimming, biking, walking,
Fi t
for use
or golfing. And you might even
get the go-ahead to take part in
high-impact exercises, such
as jogging or soccer.
Traditionally, providers
have frowned on high-
impact activities after knee
replacement surgery. Their
concern: Activities like that might
contribute to the early failure
of an artificial joint. But a study
presented at an annual meeting
of the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons
suggests otherwise.
After seven years of follow-
up with study participants,
the researchers found no real
difference in the wear and tear
of artificial knees in people who
took part in high-impact activities
and those who avoided them.
Still, this is only one study. And
it doesn’t address the long-term
consequences of high-impact
activities. So if you have a new
knee, ask your provider what
exercises are safe for you.
Surgery is an option for a pain-free lifestyle
Joint
health
li
l
ACHY KNE E S AR E
for old people—or so you
thought until your middle-aged knees started
giving you fits, making it difficult to exercise,
play sports, or even walk up and down stairs.
Arthritis is the likely culprit for those painful
knees. The disease can be triggered by a past
injury to the knee, such as from sports, or by
normal wear and tear on the joint.
But perhaps the most important thing
you need to know about your arthritic
knees is this: They don’t have to derail
an active lifestyle—talk to your provider
about possible treatments, including knee
replacement surgery.
“More advanced techniques allow us to
perform successful surgery on younger, more
active patients, with less surgical pain and
faster recoveries,” says Longview Orthopedic
Associates’ William Turner, MD, Medical
Director of PeaceHealth St. John Joint
Replacement program.
Of the roughly 700,000 total knee
replacements done every year in this country,
there’s been a surge in those performed on
middle-aged adults.
BIG DROP IN PAIN
Why the rise? A key reason may be the
surgery’s effectiveness. As many as 90 percent
of people who opt for an artificial knee report
a dramatic reduction in pain, according to the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
What’s more, artificial knees have staying
power. Nearly all function well for 15 to
20 years after providers implant them.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
With the exception of children—whose bones
are still growing—total knee replacement
surgery is an option for people of any age.
Chances are, however, that your
provider will advise surgery only if
other steps haven’t curbed your pain.
These include:
Trimming down if you’re overweight.
Extra pounds place extra stress on your
knees. (See the sidebar on page 5 to
learn more.)
Taking pain medication,
either over-the-counter or
prescription. Your provider
might also inject a medicine called a
corticosteroid into your joint.
Consulting a physical therapist.
The right kinds of exercise may
ease your pain.
BE INFORMED
Despite its many benefits, getting
a new knee is still major surgery. So
be sure to discuss the pros and
cons of this surgery with your
provider. No question is
too trivial to ask.
TALK WITH
A DOCTOR
Thinking
About Joint
Replacement
Surgery 101
When:
Tuesday, July 22,
6 to 7 p.m.
Where:
Pacific Surgical
Institute, 625 Ninth Ave.,
Longview
Info:
Join William Turner,
MD, of Longview Orthopedic
Associates, as he shares
how this life-changing
surgery can bring you back
to good health. Learn about
PeaceHealth St. John Joint
Replacement Center’s unique
program to get you up and
keep you moving on your
journey. Register online at
www.peacehealth.org/
st-john
or call
360-636-4846
.
William Turner, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Longview
Orthopedic Associates
625 Ninth Ave.
Suite 210
Longview, WA 98632
360-501-3400
4
House
call
