Can I still play golf after a knee replacement?
The doctors at the Rothman Institute are avid golfers and truly appreciate the value of the game of golf in the lives of our patients. Many patients that are seen at the Rothman Institute are dedicated golfers. Fortunately, knee replacement surgery not only restores our patients' quality of life but of equal importance allows them to return to this game. Recognizing that golfing is a primary recreational and social activity for many of our patients, we have offered the following advice about when and how to resume golfing after total knee replacement.
*Start slowly with chipping and putting before progressing to playing 9 or 18 holes.
*While walking exercise is important for your heart, resume your golfing career by using a cart. Eventually you can walk the course. At that time use a caddy or a roller for your bag. Carrying your bag increases forces across your knee joint and may excessively stress your new knee.
*Use spikeless shoes. Spiked shoes fix your stance during the golf swing and will increase rotational stress on your artificial knee. As most courses now require spikeless shoes, this advice may be superfluous.
*Avoid playing in wet weather where the chance of slipping or falling during a golf swing is increased.
*Learn to play more "on the toes". Swinging flat-footed increases stresses on the joint replacement. On the backswing, the left heel should come off the ground and on the downswing, the right heel should come off the ground. (Note- This recommendation is for right-handed golfers and the terms "right/left" need to be reversed for left-handed golfers. This advisory was added by Dr. Hozack who plays as a lefty.)
*Right-handed golfers with a right total knee replacement may benefit from "stepping through" their swing with their right leg. The right leg comes off the ground during the downswing and follow-through, and actually steps toward the target. This will effectively unload a right total knee replacement; however, no golfer with a left total knee replacement should attempt this, as it may result in excessive loading of the left knee.
*Right-handed golfers with a left total knee replacement may benefit from an open stance. This may make the backswing a little more difficult, but if the player allows his left heel to come up, he should still be able to accomplish a full turn. The open stance has the golfer facing the target, and the hips do not need to turn as drastically to the left in the impact zone, thereby reducing the stress and torque within the left knee. |
