Jogging after hip replacement

Posted by walk4life @walk4life, Mar 28, 2023

Has anyone been able to return to jogging after hip replacement ? If so how long before you could jog? My orthopedist doesn’t recommend it, but he has had patients return to running even long distances. I would like to be able to run 3-4 times a week from 3-6 miles with maybe a longer run (10 miles ) once in a while. My doctor’s main concern about running is that it wears the joint out sooner. Since I am 71 that is not much of an issue for me.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Mar 28, 2023

@walk4life As a lifelong runner near your age, I feel your desire to keep on going. My ortho was adamant about not running and jumping because mine are revisions. And while you seem to feel confident that you won't wear out or outlive your hip, let me ask a couple of questions...

How long do you plan to live? Women in my family usually live to near 90, and I sure don't want another surgery and recovery at 80 or later. Nor do I want to spend my last years on a walker or in a wheelchair.

Do you know the quality and density of your bones? Loss of both is common as we age, and there are a number of risks. First, bone pounding against metal prosthesis is harder on the bone. Second, other fracture risks increase as we age, feet and ankles especially. Third, cartilage naturally degrades as we age, leading to more pain in knees.

Finally, can you find an alternate activity that you can enjoy? I have found the slower pace of walking is satisfying now, and I vary my pace based on my lungs on any given day, and on mymwidely varied walking companions. (I admit to occasionally jogging with my granddog.) And I also enjoy my bicycle, even using it to run nearby errands.
Sue

walk4life | @walk4life | Mar 28, 2023

I appreciate your perspective. I used to run marathons and half marathons. I don’t plan to try those again. My surgeon has a patient that ran a marathon after hip replacement. I don’t plan to do any long distance running, but running is the major part of my social life. If it is possible, I plan to run again.

shirleynz | @shirleynz | Nov 2, 2023

That’s quite a lot of running to do on a replacement hip. My hubby had a replacement done 18 years ago and he was a runner. But he was told not to run, in order to keep it as long as possible so he hasn’t. But if it’s a passion for you and you live it I would start with walking, then power walking short distances and slowly build it up so that the supporting muscles get stronger. Best of luck, as you say, you may as well do a bit of what you love at your age

heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Nov 3, 2023

I'm a 69 y/o male and ex-marathoner. Last year I had both knees replaced. It wasn't running that did in my knees, but osteoarthritis.

The good news is my knees now feel terrific, and I'm told hip replacements are easier. But the admonition not to run remains.

I took up indoor rowing for cardio, and have come to love it. I do long sessions with 4 minute intervals at 80% of my max HR. It's an excellent workout and while it's certainly not like running long distance outside, it works. My running days are behind me. I've come to accept it and find other athletic challenges. Maybe you should consider that as well. Just a suggestion friend.

walk4life | @walk4life | Nov 3, 2023

I have been walking 3-4 miles about 2-3 times a week and inching up my weekend walk - last Saturday was 5 miles. My PT who has had hip replacement and is a runner gave me a program to ease into. I was dojng that with 2 minutes of running and one minute of walking for a total of 15-20 minutes. Unfortunately i got a hamstring pull. So i have been doing hamstring stretches every day and am able to resume the walking .