Joint Replacements for Baby Boomers

A couple of articles in the news today have made me wonder about us Baby Boomers and our frenzied need to prove we are not aging. We want to continue to run for miles, play tennis or water ski even though our joints are taking a beating. We’re wearing out our shoulders, knees and hips by trying to stay fit.

According to the AP, knee replacement surgeries have more than tripled in the last decade for people in the 45-to-64 age group - from 264,311 in 1997 to 621,029 in 2009. TV ads show people water skiing with their new knees or hips. We want to be fixed and we usually want it “now.” Joint replacements have enabled millions of people to lead better lives, but we don’t really know how long they will last with all of our running and skiing and tennis playing.

Artificial knees have been lasting 20 years, according to a study presented at a recent orthopedics conference, but that’s in people who go watch their grandkids’ soccer game. We don’t know how long they will last in people who actually want to play soccer.

”Besides the usual risks of surgery – infection, blood clots, anesthesia problems – replacing joints in younger people increases the odds they’ll need future operations when these wear out,” specialists caution.

Another side of this advancement as heard on NPR’s Morning Edition is that the FDA is now asking the manufacturers of “metal on metal” hip replacements to take a closer look at how their patients fare after surgery.

This is in response to consumer complaints about the implants. It has been found that metal shavings can sometimes cause infection, severe damage to local tissue, and allergic reactions. There have been some rare reports to the FDA about cases of enough metal released into the bloodstream to cause problems with a patient’s neurological system or heart.

Even amid concerns about certain models of artificial hips, Dr. Joshua Jacobs, chairman of Rush University Medical Center’s orthopedic surgery department, says most patients have no problems and are doing extremely well with their new artificial hips.

Yoga

Nearly ten years ago I ordered a set of yoga tapes which I still love to this day, Yoga Zone - Premiere Collection (Beginners).  I had previously purchased some other yoga videos, but as a beginner I could not really keep up with them. This set was different. Alan Finger’s calming voice guided me through an appropriately paced set of poses while two assistants showed me how to do them, so I could watch as well as listen. Each hour-long workout left me feeling relaxed and renewed.

For a few years I was a faithful practitioner of yoga. That does not mean I was any type of expert… that just means that I cycled through three of the Yoga Zone tapes on a weekly basis. Then, I quit and started doing other workouts.

However, any time my back or joints start aching I remember to get out my yoga mat and turn on those old tapes. An hour later, I once again feel relaxed and renewed.

Yoga is known for improving posture and balance while increasing flexibility, strength and muscle tone. By building your core and developing your strength and flexibility as you age, you will not fall so often if you trip over something.  You'll be able to catch yourself.  Yoga decreases joint and muscle pain which in turn makes you feel better and improves your sleep.

It’s easy to get started. Buy the tapes (DVDs now) and a Yoga mat. Set your alarm an hour earlier than normal. Climb out of bed and go to your TV, turn on the DVD and just start the poses in your pajamas. It couldn’t be easier.