Is knee pain slowing you down or keeping you on the sidelines when all you want to do is stay active? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans deal with knee pain that limits their physical capabilities, but for many it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to overcome knee discomfort and get back to enjoying an active life, and for the right patient, partial knee replacement may be that solution. In today’s blog, we explore how partial knee replacement can help you get back to the sports you love.
Returning To Sport After Knee Replacement
For a more in-depth look at partial knee replacement, also known as unicompartmental knee replacement, head on over to this blog where we break down the procedure and recovery timeline. Partial knee replacement can be a perfect option for the right patient, but many patients won’t be an ideal candidate for this procedure. Your doctor will look for specific factors that may suggest a partial knee replacement is right for you, including:
- Patients with knee degeneration in only one component of their knee, as unilateral degeneration tends to be more common.
- Patients who have a desire to remain active.
- Patients at an ideal weight.
- Ideal partial knee replacement candidates tend to skew on the younger side (<60 years old).
- Patients with relatively healthy supportive muscles, ligaments and tendons.
- Patients with greater overall function in the knee.
- Patients who have not responded to conservative care.
If you’re older, relatively inactive and are dealing with moderate or severe arthritic degeneration throughout your knee, unicompartmental knee replacement may not be right for you. But if you’re younger, healthier and want to stay active, partial knee replacement can get you back to all the physical activities you enjoy.
Recent studies prove just how effective partial knee replacement can be for helping individuals return to sporting activities. For the study, researchers analyzed 224 athletes who underwent partial knee replacement between 2016 and 2022. They found that nearly 60 percent of patients were able to return to sports following the procedure, while 41.5% were not. Of those who returned to sports, 60.3 percent were able to return to the same sport at the same level of performance, while 34.3 percent returned at a lower level. 5.4 percent of patients opted to pursue a different sport after their procedure.
It also didn’t take very long for patients to get back to athletics following unicompartmental knee replacement. In that study, the median time to return to athletics was a mere 10 weeks, and 90 percent of those who returned to athletics had accomplished this feat by 25 weeks post-op.
If you’re dealing with damage on one compartment of your knee and not seeing the results you’d hoped for with physical therapy, don’t assume this is the end of your athletic career. We want retirement to be filled with enjoyable physical pursuits, and partial knee replacement helps patients achieve this goal every single day. Let us chart a course for your knee pain and find a way to get you back to all the physical activities you love.
For more information, or for assistance treating a new or existing hip or knee issue, connect with Dr. Botero and his team today at (865) 558-4444.
