Fans of tennis will be aware of Andy Murray’s hip struggles over the past few years, and many of us were delighted to see him crowned doubles’ champion at Queens with partner Feliciano Lopez. When asked how he felt about his achievement, he said “I just won the doubles here with Feli with a metal hip, it’s mental really. My hip felt great, no pain – I feel good just now.” Watching his progress has been inspirational for us all.
This has been an important step for Mr Murray, both mentally and physically. His hip resurfacing operation was a mere five months ago. He now plans to continue his training and rehabilitation and hopes to push his successes on the singles’ courts too.
Andy Murray has recently returned to sport following major joint surgery and he is not the only one to be keen to return to more strenuous activities after surgery. In fact, one of the most frequently asked questions from patients who are preparing for hip replacement surgery, is how quickly they will regain mobility. Not only that, very many of our patients are not just keen to get back to walking around, they are keen to get back into the sports they love.
Evolution of thinking
Total hip replacements have been performed for decades; they are one of the oldest and best practised joint surgeries. When first introduced they were regarded more as a ‘salvage’ operation, as explained by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) “originally considered a salvage procedure, the initial goal was simply to allow people to perform basic activities of daily living without experiencing excruciating pain.”
When things had become unbearable for patients in terms of pain and lack of mobility, this operation could help reduce pain and give them the freedom to move around again. Fast forward to the modern day and our thinking regarding this type of operation has changed significantly. Our expectations of what it can achieve – and very often the realities of this too – are far greater.
Taking a positive approach to return to sport after hip surgery
Mr Bridle’s approach to advising patients on when they can return to sports is that anything is achievable within reason. The important thing to remember is don’t rush things; listen to your surgeon and your body, ensure you take your rehabilitation and physiotherapy seriously, and you’ll soon find you’re able to start participating in the leisure pursuits you enjoy.
This forward-thinking approach is supported and recommended by leading medical literature, as outlined by the NCBI; which explains that data supports a managed return to sport after hip surgery and yields no evidence that this adds undue wear and tear on the new joint. “There is little prospective evidence regarding the likelihood of poor clinical outcomes with higher level of sporting activity. There is some evidence to suggest that wear may be related to activity level, but the impact on clinical outcomes is conflicting.”
It goes on to advise surgeons “when advising an athlete considering returning to sport after THA [a total hip athroplasty/replacement], consider their preoperative activity level, current physical fitness, and specific history including bone quality, surgical approach and type of prosthesis.” If the patient is keen to get active again, there is no medical reason why this shouldn’t, in theory, be possible.
To discuss in more depth what you can expect in terms of return to sport after hip surgery, call 020 8947 9524 to book a consultation.
