Executive Summary
- After hip replacement surgery, golfing may offer physical and mental benefits, including stress relief, social interaction, and low-impact exercise that can increase flexibility and cardiovascular health.
- Before resuming golfing, people recovering from hip replacement surgery should consult a healthcare provider about their recovery timeline, readiness indicators, and personal limitations to avoid overexertion or strains.
- When recommencing golfing, you can minimize injury by warming up with stretches, adjusting your swing mechanics, and using appropriate equipment, such as lightweight clubs, comfortable shoes, and supportive braces.
- Stop golfing and contact a medical professional if you start experiencing unusual pain, swelling, stiffness, numbness, tingling, clicking, popping, or balance issues.
Understanding if You Can Golf After a Hip Replacement
If you are an avid golfer with hip pain, you may wonder if you can golf after a hip replacement and, if so, how long after the hip replacement until you can play again. Knowing how a hip replacement may affect the pursuit of interests is crucial, considering the surgery is incredibly common—roughly 544,000 hip replacements are performed yearly.
Generally, post-surgery physical activity is an excellent way to facilitate recovery. However, some high-impact exercises can exacerbate symptoms like pain or inflammation and complicate healing. It is best to practice doctor-approved low-impact exercises and sports that send less shock to your joints, which may include activities like golf.
Although you can probably play golf after a hip replacement, you should educate yourself by reading through the five considerations below and talking to a trustworthy medical professional to determine whether and when you should get back into this sport.
1. Golfing May Benefit Your Recovery
After your hip replacement, you may have to adapt your lifestyle to promote comfort and prolong the function of your artificial hip for as long as possible. However, this does not necessarily mean you have to give up all your favorite hobbies, especially if they are low-impact activities like golfing.
In fact, some medical providers may incorporate golfing into their patients’ treatment plans if it matches their interests and physical condition. Depending on your specific situation, golfing after a hip replacement surgery may offer the following benefits.
Physical Advantages
Some examples of physical benefits that can be attributed to golfing after a hip replacement surgery are:
- Practicing low-impact exercise – Golfing can be a comfortable, low-intensity workout for some individuals. It can allow them to get outside and move their bodies without sending uncomfortable shockwaves to their joints.
- Enhanced flexibility – Golfing requires walking, swinging, and other movements that, if performed carefully and correctly, can increase one’s range of motion over time.
- Augmented cardiovascular health – As you walk and activate your muscles during golfing, you can gradually increase your heart rate, which may positively impact your cardiovascular system.
Regular movement can condition your body and make it easier to perform everyday tasks in the future. Patients may be more inclined to move their bodies and carefully exercise if they are doing something enjoyable like golfing.
Mental Advantages
In addition to physical advantages, golfing can lift patients’ moods and make the recovery process more manageable. Some examples of mental benefits golfing can have after a hip replacement are:
- Stress relief – Professor Jenny Roe, an environmental psychologist and the director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Design & Health, claims golfing benefits physical and mental well-being by exposing you to nature.
- Social interaction – Instead of lying in bed, secluded from others, patients should try to maintain a social life to promote joy and optimism. Golfing with others is a great way to foster conversations and companionship.
- Enjoyment – Score-based activities like golfing give patients goals to focus on outside of their physical recovery, allowing them to find entertainment and hope in each game they play.
Although golfing can be an excellent exercise option for many people recovering from hip replacement surgeries, it is still important to take preventive measures to avoid hurting yourself or interfering with the healing process.
2. Precautions Still Need to Be Taken
Before starting to golf again, consult your healthcare provider to ensure you are ready and capable of recommencing this sport. Firstly, ask your medical professional to walk you through the hip replacement recovery timeline. Some may be able to resume normal activities a few weeks after their hip replacement, but everyone is different.
Additionally, your healthcare provider should assess your readiness indicators. With their medical background, they should be qualified to gauge your physical abilities, including balance, muscle strength, and range of motion, to determine whether you can comfortably play golf.
Having the discussions mentioned above can help you better understand your limitations and capabilities, especially regarding the surgery. Taking precautions after surgery and obeying your medical professional’s advice can also reduce the risk of overexerting or straining yourself.
Return to the Activities You Love
Our board-certified surgeons at The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale use the latest methods in hip surgery to provide you with the best possible outcome.
3. Equipment Choice Matters
It is important to rely on appropriate equipment while golfing to avoid injuries or complications that delay your hip replacement recovery. Some examples of equipment accommodations that can facilitate golfing after a hip replacement are:
- Choose lightweight golf clubs to reduce strain on your hip.
- Use clubs with graphite shafts to improve shock absorption.
- Wear cushioned and supportive golf shoes to reduce hip stress.
- To avoid overexertion, take a golf cart rather than walking the entire course.
- Use a hip brace to achieve more stability and support.
- Use clubs with proper grip sizes and textures to promote comfort.
- Select an ergonomic, lightweight golf bag to minimize pressure on your hip.
Ensuring that your equipment is comfortable and light enough to manage is vital. Adapting your selection of golfing gear to meet your evolving needs is one way to decrease your risk of injury.
4. Physical Adjustments That Minimize the Risk of Injury
In addition to ensuring your equipment reduces your risk of injury, you may have to adjust how you physically prepare and participate in golf. Some examples of physical adjustments that can help you avoid injuries include:
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- Warming up before golfing – taking a warm shower or light walk can mitigate stiffness prior to playing the game.
- Stretching – Some hip-targeted stretches, such as standing hip abductions or hip flexions, may help you increase your range of motion if you try them before and throughout your golfing experience.
- Modify your swing mechanics – If you notice that your typical swing hurts or puts unnecessary strain on your hip, adjust your technique to be more comfortable.
In general, you should listen to your body and avoid overexertion. Your health should always be a priority over your golf success—do not push yourself past your limits.
5. Signs That You Should Stop
As you ease back into golf, be cognizant of indicators that could lead to physical strain or injury. Some examples of signs that you should stop golfing are:
- Balance issues
- Discomfort
- Numbness
- Pain
- Popping sensations
- Reduced mobility
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Tingling feeling
- Unusual sounds like clicking
Although golfing after a hip replacement is typically considered safe for many patients, you should still be weary and aware of how your body feels. If you notice any of the signs above, contact a medical professional to avoid exacerbating your hip replacement symptoms.
Get Back to the Activities You Love
Golfing can provide both physical and psychological benefits for some people recovering from hip surgery, including social connection, stress release, and low-impact exercise that may improve cardiovascular health and flexibility. Still, to avoid strain or overexertion, people should speak with their healthcare professional before getting back into golfing to learn about their recovery timeframe, readiness cues, and personal limitations.
When returning to golf, it’s advised to warm up with stretches, change swing mechanics, and use the right equipment to reduce injury risk. During a round of golf, if you have any odd pain, noises, swelling, or balance problems, you should immediately stop and get medical help.
The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale specializes in anterior total hip replacement surgery and total hip revision surgery. Our highly qualified joint specialists practice minimally invasive surgeries using cutting-edge technology like Mako SmartRobotics, which can help patients get back to golf and other things they love as soon as possible.
Schedule a consultation to develop a customized treatment plan for your unique hip complications.
