What Is The Best Age For A Hip Replacement?

Many people with hip pain wonder if they will need a hip replacement, the best age for a hip replacement, and if they can preserve their active lifestyle.

Power of exercise for joint health

The Twin Cities are widely recognized as a great place to enjoy a lifestyle that emphasizes fitness. We love to walk, run, bike, compete, and enjoy water sports on our famed 10,000 lakes. Our activities don’t merely bring us pleasure; they are also a critical component in maintaining health. The research is overwhelming: exercise is one of the most powerful preventative steps we can take to keep our bones healthy now and ensure an active, injury-free future.

As wonderful as exercise is for us, it is also true that sports injuries and the wear and tear of repetitive joint impact can be a risk factor for osteoarthritis. This condition occurs when the cushioning cartilage that protects the joints gradually wears out. Osteoarthritis affects nearly 27 million adults in our country.

Challenges of arthritis

The lifestyle impact of osteoarthritis varies from patient to patient. Although osteoarthritis is more common after age 45, it can begin in young adulthood. Generally, the symptoms can be treated with conservative, noninvasive treatments to slow down disease progression and relieve joint pain. When conservative treatments cease to be effective, your doctor may talk with you about a surgical hip replacement.

What’s the best age for a hip replacement?

We find it helpful to consider hip function—instead of age—when we are evaluating the timing for a hip replacement. If medication, physical therapy, and other conservative approaches no longer manage pain effectively, your lifestyle may be affected whether you are 46 or 76.

If you embrace regular exercise and sports as part of your healthy lifestyle, advanced osteoarthritis can limit daily activities and curtail the hobbies that keep you fit. In these circumstances, it is appropriate to talk with your orthopedic doctor about whether a hip replacement will help you preserve and continue to pursue your active lifestyle. By protecting the fitness habits you love, you are also protecting your long-term health.

When to seek treatment for your arthritis

Arthritis doesn’t have to spell the end of an active life. If you are experiencing worrisome symptoms or persistent pain, the renowned arthritis specialists at Summit Orthopedics can help. We work with you to confirm a diagnosis and develop an appropriate conservative treatment plan. If nonsurgical treatments fail to support your lifestyle goals, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons will consult with you and discuss appropriate surgical options. Summit is home to innovative joint replacement options. Our Vadnais Heights Surgery Center is one of only two surgery centers nationally to receive The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.

Start your journey to healthier joints. Find your arthritis expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

More resources for you

• Why are younger patients getting hip replacements?
• Learn more about hip arthritis
• Ask Dr. Wickum: Is there an ideal age to have hip replacement surgery?
• Take Summit’s free hip assessment
• Get trusted info on hip replacements from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
• New Research Supports Pre-Surgical Therapy For Joint Replacements

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