sculling and hip surgery

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assuming a sucessful hip surgery ie;a new/replaced right hip and a sucessfull recovery what are the chances someone could take up slideing seat sculling or rowing for a hobby?angusk_2000

-- angus kelly (angusk_2000@yahoo.com), June 29, 2000

Answers

Dear Angus,

I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on the web, but I would think that your chances of getting into rowing are very good. Some of these surgeries are so successful it's almost like getting a brand new natural hip. Even in the unlikely event that the results of your procedure are less than spectacular there's no reason why you can't enjoy some of the new breed of fast, able, lightweight, fixed seat craft. Assuming you have no other disabilities you should be able to at least give sliding seat a try. I've seen people who were missing an entire leg row sliding seat quite effectively. Good luck.

Yours,

Andre de Bardelaben

-- Andre de Bardelaben (middlepath@aol.com), June 30, 2000.


Dear Angus,

In a few words, you will be just fine.

I had my first total hip done in 1973 at age 38. I was just a few weeks away from a wheel chair when I found the RIGHT doctor to do the surgery. In 1988, I had to have the lower portion replaced as the cement that was used to hold the part broke down and allowed the part to "float". The new prosthetic waas designed to bond with the bone and it is super. In 1995, the cup portion had to be replaced. It had separated from the bone and had to have some reconstruction done. My right hip is now a non issue! I have a very very busy photography service that requires me to be on my feet for several hours a day and my hip DOES NOT have any limitations on my activities.

I have two rowing boats, one is a 17 foot Devlin Oarling and my second is a Devlin Peeper, 11 foot. I row around Puget Sound with no problems. My only problem is getting enough time to go rowing. The oarling is a convetional rowing setup, but, the peeper is a forward facing rowing boat. The system was designed and built by my son, Tom. It works great.

My advice is to get your hip done and enjoy the rest of your life. Be comfortable with your surgeon. If you are not, find another until you feel good about the doctor.

You will have two regrets upon having the surgery. Why did I wait sooo long and how can I catch up on the time lost worrying. The second part is don't worry, just enjoy. Recovery time is short. You should be able to row in about six months depending on your circumstances.

Best of luck, I will be glad to tell you more if you would like.

Jim Callea

-- Jim Callea (Tramacwood@aol.com), July 03, 2000.


Angus (and others) I'm not a doctor, but I am a physical therapist and I would have to say: MAYBE, eventually! The unknown factor is force distribution. You need to discuss this with your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist - before (if possible) and after surgery. Only your surgeon knows the quality of the replacement parts, your tissues and the interface between the two (i.e. the liklihood of successful healing). Based on the information from the surgeon and observation of your rehabilitation process your physical therapist should be able to give you advice on if, when and how you should go about training for any new activity. Specificity is a critical component of training. Other important factors include the relative length of your muscles, the relative range of motion you use rowing and the speed of you movements (during the drive and recovery phases and especially during the transitions between the two phases). Consider these true stories: compare the 101 year old woman (my wife's grandmother) who fell down the attic stairs and cracked 2 ribs with the University football player (one of my professors treated him) who stepped off a six inch curb and fractured his tibia and fibula. Why? Force distribution! Grandma happen to land perfectly and the forces were absorbed by the various soft tissues. The football player landed wrong in such a way that his young, healthy bones took the brunt of the force. My point? How you row may be the most important factor.

-- David Toivainen, PT, MS (toiberes@foggy.net), April 17, 2002.

thank you. Thank you for your warm and hopeful replys. angus

-- angus kelly (angusk2000@yahoo.com), April 27, 2004.

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