Skydiving After Knee Replacement

[gweeks 1]

A friend of mine is getting close to needing knee replacement surgery. Two doctors have told him he shouldn't jump any more once he has had the surgery.

Has anyone jumped after having a knee replacement? What were your experiences? What are the additional risks?

I'll forward any responses to him as he is not on dz.com. Thanks!

[headoverheels 334]

I don't know about the advisability of jumping, but a friend of mine recently returned to jumping after a knee replacement. He has not been very active in jumping for a while, so I don't expect that he will be making more than 50 jumps a year, if that.

[GraficO 0]

In March 1991 I completely tore my ACL, miniscus and a couple other ligaments during a friday night beer brawl. I had surgery 3 days later for the repair by the doctor that specialized in sports injuries for all of the Fresno State football and basketball players.... in July of the same year I started skydiving. I wore my brace and was fairly gingering on landings... but I have not had a lick of problems since other than fatigue. It's been a long time and I have not had to wear a brace at all.

If this is a complete joint replacement... that may be a different story all together. No matter how many times you land the same way, in the same place, under the same conditions... you still run the risk of a bad landing that could jeoparized that joint. It really comes down to how much risk you are willing to accept.

GraficO

"A Mind is a terrible thing to taste."

[tmaricle55 0]

After having surgery on my knees 3 times - terrible triads. Always being an athlete I was not ready to hang up sports.

These are great - I wear them every time I jump. I think of it just as another piece of gear and don't think much of it.

http://www.donjoy.com/

Muff Brother # 3883, SCR # 14796 ICD # 1 - Pres.
Yeah, I noticed and I think it's funny!

[SSGJOHNSON 0]

Quote

A friend of mine is getting close to needing knee replacement surgery. Two doctors have told him he shouldn't jump any more once he has had the surgery.

Has anyone jumped after having a knee replacement? What were your experiences? What are the additional risks?

I'll forward any responses to him as he is not on dz.com. Thanks!

A total knee replacement is far and away different from any other knee surgery. The knee will not last forever and could be weakened allot by jumping. If he likes to walk I would not suggest that he does any jumping after a knee replacement. This is not coming from someone who doesn't know either I work in Physical Therapy and have dealt with allot of them. The rehab alone will be enough to keep him from jumping for quit sometime and I'm sure after it is said and done he will not want to jump anymore after the surgery and rehab. Its easy to say before hand that he will jump wait until after and see if he wants to.

I know ill go to heaven because ive spent my time in Hell.

[BounceEasy 0]

tlmiracle, are you using a prescription brace or off-the-shelf?

[If so] I'm just curious about how the physician responded to what you intend to use the brace for. I would think that they would feel it unecessary to spend insurance money so that you could continue doing something dangerous.

I've been putting off seeing a doctor for a knee-brace because I'm afraid they're going to freak out when I tell them what it's for. (jumping/thai boxing) I do intend to tell them exactly what I'm planning to use it for, but I've been afraid that the way I say it will override the doctor's response..

I hope this post isn't off topic. I don't have a knee-replacement; just surgery for my bucket-tendon & meniscus about 2 years ago.

Anyone had any experience relating an eccentric sport to a doctor?

If you walk, just walk. If you sit, just sit. But whatever you do, don't wobble.
- Master Ummon