Boomers Fueling Boom In Knee Replacements,Hip Surgeries

I remember years ago when my grandfather was about 75, he had hip replacement surgery to help relieve the severe arthritis pain that limited his activities. From what I recall, it was a tough surgery and resulted in a lot of time in the hospital, followed by rehab, followed by more time to get back to his normal activities. And I knew plenty of other elderly people who were undergoing the same surgery.

The possibility of getting a brand new hip amazed me, as did the relief from chronic pain and the freedom to walk comfortably that so many people got from the surgery.

And now it amazes me even more that I’m part of the generation that is seeing skyrocketing rates of hip replacements. According a recent CDC report, the number of total hip replacements for the 55 to 64 age group tripled from 2000 to 2010. And for those between 45 and 54, the procedures increased a whopping 205 percent from 138,000 to nearly 311,000 a year.

You can probably guess why this is: a combination of the larger boomer population and their intolerance for living a sedentary or less active life. As a generation, boomers were and still are very active. Many started playing sports and exercising when they were very young.

Knee replacement surgeries have more than tripled in the 45-to-64 age group the past decade, research shows

“We have known for a long time that we are going to be doing many more hip replacements in the United States,” said Dr. Robert Molloy, an orthopedic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic who is quoted in an article.

He goes on to say that patients now have more confidence than they did 20 or 25 years ago that they can get back to their formerly active lifestyles because of the better implant devices on the market today. Due to technological advancements, the longevity of the implants can be up to 20 years for most patients, depending on factors like body weight and activity levels....Read More....