You can ski after a hip replacement, but the average time for recovery after this surgery is around 10 to 12 months. And you should always listen to the advice from your doctor or other healthcare professional as to when it’s ok to ski.
I’m Christine, the founder of this blog and a lifelong skier. I’ve dealt with my fair share of injuries over the years and know that time off the snow can be frustrating. I’ve done some research to come up with the information found here.
This post will examine if you can ski after a hip replacement. I’ll provide you with some information related to this procedure and skiing while also giving you other helpful tips to help you heal quickly and get back on the snow.
Let’s get to it.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- It is possible to ski after a hip replacement. You just need to ensure you fully recover from the procedure before going skiing or doing any other strenuous athletic activity.
- The average recovery time after a hip replacement is 10 to 12 months. But this can vary depending on the individual’s age and other factors.
- You should always heed the advice of your doctor, physical therapist, or other healthcare professional as to when you can get back on the snow following hip replacement surgery.
Can You Ski After a Hip Replacement?
A hip replacement is a significant injury that can take a while to recover from. But just because you are down and out for a bit doesn’t mean your skiing days are over. You can ski after a hip replacement; you just need to take some time away and fully recover before doing so.
Like any other injury you might need to deal with, the possibility of a full recovery is high, especially with modern medicine and all the available rehabilitation methods. But you must always commit to this rehab to encourage faster healing and recovery.
Your age also comes into play relating to skiing after a hip replacement. Younger skiers are more likely to recover faster and get back on the snow. Older skiers may require additional healing, and some might not be able to ski at all after the procedure.
So while it is certainly possible to ski after a hip replacement, with enough rest and rehab, not every individual will be able to. There are too many factors at play to state whether everyone can ski following a hip replacement.
How Long After Hip Replacement Before I Can Ski?
The average recovery time for a hip replacement is 10 to 12 months. That means you are looking at nearly a full year from when you get the procedure to when you’ll be able to ski again.
As mentioned above, recovery times can vary, and 10 to 12 months is the average range. It’s rare to be skiing in less than ten months after a hip replacement, but it’s pretty common for recovery to take longer than 12 months.
It also depends on the time of year you get injured or have hip replacement surgery. If it happens early in the ski season, there’s a good chance you’ll be skiing the following season. If it happens at the end of a season, you will probably miss more than a year of skiing.
Ski Insurance After Hip Replacement
If you need a hip replacement, your ski season is over for at least the year. But depending on if you have a ski pass and what type of pass it is, you might have ski insurance that will refund some of the cost of the pass because of your injury.
Not every ski pass has this coverage, but it’s worth asking the pass provider if you must stop your season because of a hip replacement or any other injury. This is an excellent feature for skiers because you don’t waste money on your pass if you can’t ski.
Mogul Skiing After Hip Replacement
Depending on how your hip replacement procedure goes and how well you recover, you might need to change your skiing style or the terrain you like to ski. And if you’re a mogul skier, you might need to reconsider mogul skiing after a hip replacement.
Mogul skiing can be brutal on your hips and knees, which can be bad for a hip replacement. This is especially true if you haven’t fully recovered yet. It’s always best to start slowly and work your way back to more demanding types of skiing.
Alpine Skiing After Hip Replacement
Returning to alpine skiing after a hip replacement is totally possible. But again, you should always take your time when diving back in. After recovery, consider sticking to less demanding terrain than what you usually ski.
Setbacks are possible, so it’s always best to be careful when returning to alpine skiing after a hip replacement. You want to ensure you are at full strength before going big.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to ski after a hip replacement, but you are looking at a fairly lengthy recovery time that will likely keep you off the snow for around a year. But if you do all of your rehab and heal quickly, you’ll be back on the slopes before you know it!
Have you had a hip replacement or other procedure that kept you off the snow? How long did your recovery take? Let me know in the comments below.