Hip Replacement – Fitness First
According to a report in the Telegraph, hip replacement
procedures are no longer just for those in old age as an obsession
with fitness in the UK has seen the numbers requiring hip
replacement surgery at earlier stages of life soar.
Hip replacement operations are typically required due to a
condition known as osteonecrosis, which is a degradation of bones
that is typically witness in old age but due to an increasingly
active nation, the number of people requiring hip replacement
surgery at a relatively young age is beginning to increase
dramatically.
Hip Replacement – Keeping Fit at a Cost
It is, of course, beneficial to endeavour to keep fit through
exercise but some research suggests that it is wise to take some
exercise precautions in order to prevent conditions that can lead
to an increased likelihood of hip replacement procedures. Whilst
most would associate a hip replacement operation with the elderly,
it is becoming increasingly common amongst younger generations.
According to the report in the Telegraph, a fitness enthusiast, Ian
Collins, who exercised for 3 hours a day was shocked to discover
that he had the hips of a pensioner and that he would need hip
replacement surgery sooner rather than later. Speaking to the
Telegraph, Mr Collins stated, “I noticed a pain in my hip from
about the age of 25. It got progressively worse until, in my
thirties, I had to take painkillers to do sport. I thought that in
a few years' time, I would take it easier and everything would be
fine. It never occurred to me I was doing long-term damage and had
a degenerative disease.”
Hip Replacement – A Growing Trend
According to the report in the Telegraph, hip replacement and
knee replacement procedures are becoming increasingly common in
younger generations. In America, for example, one in three hip
replacement operations is carried out on someone under 60 compared
to one in four the previous year and this trend is beginning to be
replicated in the UK. One of the main factors in this increase in
hip replacement procedures is said to be a growing emphasis on
exercise and keeping fit. Speaking to the Telegraph, Richard
Sinnerton of the London Clinic, states, “We are seeing younger and
younger patients having joint replacement surgery, partly because
they are doing more exercise. These people have fantastic hearts
and lungs but their hips and knees are worn out.”