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Choosing a New Sport after bilateral TKR

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Gardien

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Apr 28, 2009
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I was an ice hockey goaltender for 34 years, since age 4. Most places I lived we played year round, I have no idea how many seasons that equals. A few years ago, due to wear and tear & injuries, my knees started breaking down for no reason. For example, I was sitting on a sofa & something fell apart in my left knee, bad enough to require surgery. Another time, something fell apart in my right knee while I was asleep. Again, bad enough to require surgery, just so I could walk. My doctor knew I was a goalie and I also taught goaltending, so TKR was delayed as long as possible. We tried all sorts of taping, braces, etc to keep me on the ice. I finally got so bad I could not walk without crutches, because my knees buckled & gave way constantly. 8 weeks ago, I had bilateral TKR. The improvement is like a miracle. However, my doctor does not want me to return to hockey & I agreed to this before he operated. I also cannot teach now, because I cannot demonstrate to my students. I am looking for a sport that I can do now, with my new knees? The new knees do not move like my old knees, not designed for goaltending anyway. I am looking for a sport that is competitive, but will not break my implants?
Thank you.
 
Welcome to the forum, Gardien. So glad you joined us. We have quite a few members on the forum who are active in various sports. What you choose to do is more of an individual choice. Cycling is an excellent one. Do you prefer an individual or a team sport? Indoors or outside. Maybe you will decide on a couple of new sports that you do seasonally. There are a lot of options. What interests you???
 
Gardien,
Welcome! Sounds like you are competitive. How about it you consider taking up golf? I just started myself last weekend after BTKR last June.
I am also a skier. I was able to return to Alpine skiing on Feb 1st, and managed to get in 8 days of skiing this past winter.
The golf will work on your stamina, you can learn with golf tips online. I took a lesson last Sunday........
You can compete with others, yourself, and the par for the course.
Give it a try!
The Book describes what activities you can pursue:
Golf
Bowling
Dancing
Skiing (as long as you were proficient before surgery)
Doubles Tennis
hiking
Cross-country skiing
snowshoeing
biking
hunting
fishing
racquetball
squash

"Any sport that requires excessive lateral movement or involves quick stops,starts, and turns should be avoided due to the excessive stress those actions place on the knee joint."
Best,
Crystal
 
Just curious Crystal.....with the quote you have at the bottom about lateral movement and quick stops and starts....wouldn't that apply to racquetball and squash? I would think movements in those sports would be much like tennis, which is one sport that is not generally recommended after a TKR.
 
I took the quote out of the book. I believe with squash and racquetball you are in a small room for a court and there is not a lot of room to run at full tilt. The same goes for playing a doubles rather than singles tennis game.
I taught PE and this makes sense to me.......
Best,
Crystal
 
Gardien,

If you want to be safe, take up playing cards!


God Bless,
Rick
 
Welcome to the forum. I have a couple of thoughts, not about different sports but on hockey. I played and ref'ed hockey until I had bypass surgery at 50 and then had a LTKR due to old hockey related injuries. Well to my point. Why are you so sure you can't teach goaltending? I probably wouldn't play because even in a "gentlemanly" game a goalie tends to get plowed into. But if you are really passionate about teaching, why not say you'll wait 8 months, work your quads off in PT, and see how it feels. Some people never find kneeling comfortable and that might be a stopper, but you might find that you actually have more flexibility in the new knees than the old ones.

Does your surgeon understand what you want to do or does he just see these NHL guys getting plowed into the boards and think "not on my knee you don't"? I think too many surgeons for liability reasons dismiss the whole sport because its easier and safer riskwise than discussing nuances of the game.
 
Well, Dick Beardsely (a famous runner) got his knee done and is running again. Granted, that's probably not the best idea in the world but he's doing it anyway . . . slowly. I'm a surfer. I did my last session the day before my surgery. I'm aiming for July as my return to the ocean (although it may take more time than that). I agree with edtk. Wait and see. I think athletes with replaced knees is a new paradigm. My doctor sees no reason why I wouldn't return to surfing even though we know of no surfers with knee replacements. I've been told of people who rockclimb and skateboard with replaced knees. Again, they are the extreme, but they're out there doing it. None of us really knows what we're capable of until we, the athletes, get fit and test these bionic knees.

I wouldn't give up hope of teaching just yet. Wait and see.
 
I am looking for a sport that is competitive, but will not break my implants?
Thank you.

Well now, that's a man who is pro-active and thinking ahead! Good for you. Now you may think I'm splitting hairs here but just wanted to assure you that nothing you do can break your implants! Not no way.

However, it can break the cement bond in the bone which is pretty much the same thing.
[Bonesmart.org] Choosing a New Sport after bilateral TKR
So why did I speak?

Beats me!
[Bonesmart.org] Choosing a New Sport after bilateral TKR


All the best in your search.
 
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