O After Hip Replacement

[OverShot]

Mrs OS is soon to have a hip replacement. Does anyone have any experience of O before and after hip replacement?

Is a reasonable level of forest O possible or not recommended.

[denbydale]

Ask Jim Mitchell of PFO Or Neil Croasdell of EPOC (both have had hip replacements)

[OldManHOC]

...also Dennis Mews (formerly of HOC, now leading light of the Melbourne (Australia) orienteering scene

http://kangaroosloose.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/porcupine-ridge.html

PM me with your email and I can ask Dennis to contact you

[andypat]

I know people do get back to doing reasonably manual work after hip replacement but running on uneven ground probably has a higher level of risk of dislocation due to the unpredictability. Probably depends on progress and age, but I'd expect to be avoiding any rough terrain for at least 6 months and possibly longer - and even then depends on whether any other medical issues, eg osteoporosis.

[JEP]

I have had 16 years of orienteering since my hip replacement so far and still ok. Worked really hard on re-hab - 30 minutes plus of exercise 3 times a day for 2/3 months to ensure muscles were rebuilt to avoid dislocation risk.

Did a short orange about 3 months after the op and the JK after 6 months. Stick to short courses and these days very slow but enough of a challenge to still enjoy the sport.

Medical advice would be to avoid orienteering but medical profession haven't much of a clue about sport or athletes. Still agree it does depend on re-hab and if there are any other issues.

[batty]

I had a hip replacement 3 years ago. My consultant said it would be fine to be back orienteering and as I am younger was given a ceramic replacement which is supposed to be better so find out what sort Mrs OS is getting. There was no physio support after this op I was just sent away with a few exercises so did them religiously and after a few weeks added resistance bands. I was walking after 4 weeks and running again after 6. Unfortunately had a further different injury which curtailed my comeback but now orienteering with confidence and running and competing on long courses. Forest O is better than urban O as the hard ground gives more of a pounding. Other successful hip replacement competitors are Anne Donell who I think won the masters after her first hip.

[JK]

Also several Trail-Orienteers, at least one of whom posts on this forum.
[and no, I don't mean me. It's my knee that is wonky]

[denzil53]

...also Dennis Mews (formerly of HOC, now leading light of the Melbourne (Australia) orienteering scene

http://kangaroosloose.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/porcupine-ridge.html

PM me with your email and I can ask Dennis to contact you

This is Dennis. I had a hip replacement in 2009 and it took me quite a while to get back to competing properly again - maybe six months. I turned to TrailO for that year, which was great. I competed for GB and still have the medal!

I emigrated to Melbourne in 2012 and things have certainly improved physically. A different diet led me to shed 15 kilos+ (over two stones) in a short time, and regular street events here have improved my fitness. I am running through the terrain as fast as ever, so much so that I shoot past controls without punching them!

A hip replacement should not stop you orienteering. It might be the making of you!