Knee replacement and wingfoil?

Any one had a knee replacement and is winging? life of activity catching up with me. thanks for any feed back. Cheers.

I have a winging friend with double knee replacement. Knees replaced many years ago. I advised this person to get a board big enough to place hands on deck and just stand. In the last 12 months she became a really good winger and stopped windsurfing completely. Her age is somewhere around 70.

Select to expand quote

Hover62 said..
I had a total right knee replacement last july. I was back on the water winging after 3 months. There are a few things to consider. Your knee will not bend much more than a 120 to 125 degrees after you have recovered. This makes it a bit more difficult getting to your feet. I don't find it a problem but I'm slower getting up. I find it much easier to use a larger floaty board. Also kneeling is a problem for some people. I don't have any problem doing it but I find it much more comfortable if I wear a knee pad. I found that volleyball knee pads work best for me. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them based on my experience.

Thanks for that sounds positive. My thoughts were I would have issues flexing and kneeling, which I do a lot of climbing back on. Gives me hope though that I can still get out on water and do something. Thanks for advice.

Select to expand quote

rgmacca said..
Any one had a knee replacement and is winging? life of activity catching up with me. thanks for any feed back. Cheers.

Hey Macca just had my last hip done,that makes two knees and two hips, over an eight year span.68 now.
So glad I don't have to get any more replacements.
I have surfed since a kid ,wavesailed ,started kite surfing late fifties got to 60 left hip replacement yep ok recovered,64 right knee replacement levelled me up & recovered got back into kiting & kitefoil .Btway only started Wingfoiling September 2022 Sold everything else,I am a total wing nut now).Moved to Silver Sands,Mandurah,WA where there is real wind)
About 66 left knee replacement recovered ok. Knees take longer to regain most not all of your flexibility.
Part of the outside area of knee was numb.Bit weird but has gradually come back.So now only 10 days out of my last right hip replacement operation I can honestly say once you get over the initial operation the ,drugs,Pyshio you at least don't have that horrible chronic pain of a worn out bone on bone knee or hip joint.Knees take about 12 months to start feeling like you have made the right decision.
The great thing is not long after the operation you notice your not in the chronic pain that you had before.Worth while coming from someone that knows.

Select to expand quote

Leighbreeze said..

rgmacca said..
Any one had a knee replacement and is winging? life of activity catching up with me. thanks for any feed back. Cheers.

Hey Macca just had my last hip done,that makes two knees and two hips, over an eight year span.68 now.
So glad I don't have to get any more replacements.
I have surfed since a kid ,wavesailed ,started kite surfing late fifties got to 60 left hip replacement yep ok recovered,64 right knee replacement levelled me up & recovered got back into kiting & kitefoil .Btway only started Wingfoiling September 2022 Sold everything else,I am a total wing nut now).Moved to Silver Sands,Mandurah,WA where there is real wind)
About 66 left knee replacement recovered ok. Knees take longer to regain most not all of your flexibility.
Part of the outside area of knee was numb.Bit weird but has gradually come back.So now only 10 days out of my last right hip replacement operation I can honestly say once you get over the initial operation the ,drugs,Pyshio you at least don't have that horrible chronic pain of a worn out bone on bone knee or hip joint.Knees take about 12 months to start feeling like you have made the right decision.
The great thing is not long after the operation you notice your not in the chronic pain that you had before.Worth while coming from someone that knows.

That's really positive, glad all your surgeries have gone well and getting back out there. It's great to know that it's still possible to enjoy your water sports, I keep hearing negative things from doctors. inspirational.

I'm 68 and had a right total knee replacement 3 years ago, just after I started winging. I was also back on the water in 3 months with flexion up to 135 degrees. You absolutely can't get full flexion without risking blowing out the joint so you have to kneel in a "raised" position and be careful about tipping off before standing up in lumpy conditions so your knee doesn't bend to far, but I'm 80kg and ride a 90litre board with no dramas at all.

The key is to get a well regarded surgeon who uses the latest prosthesis. Using the public health system could be a lottery so with no health insurance, I paid up the $28k and had a great result. Seemed a lot at the time but keeping up with new wings and boards has cost about the same :-)

Select to expand quote

rgmacca said..

AKLPhil said..
I'm 68 and had a right total knee replacement 3 years ago, just after I started winging. I was also back on the water in 3 months with flexion up to 135 degrees. You absolutely can't get full flexion without risking blowing out the joint so you have to kneel in a "raised" position and be careful about tipping off before standing up in lumpy conditions so your knee doesn't bend to far, but I'm 80kg and ride a 90litre board with no dramas at all.

The key is to get a well regarded surgeon who uses the latest prosthesis. Using the public health system could be a lottery so with no health insurance, I paid up the $28k and had a great result. Seemed a lot at the time but keeping up with new wings and boards has cost about the same :-)

Thanks for that. I thought that flex might be an issue, I suppose have to readjust expectations and conditions you go out in. I saw a NHS physio and at the moment they think a TKR is far away, It's a case of get on with it until can't walk. Private orthopaedic surgeon might suggest otherwise, I'm at mercy of NHS due to costs.

Depending on your level of pain ,general quality of life ,not sleeping well ,hurts to walk,turn go up & down stairs and having to take pain medication to get through a wing session.Your GP needs to refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon,get all the relevant CT or X-rays needed to get on the public system waiting list .
Mine took 18mths.Four weeks post op hip replacement surgery an cycling 20-25klms every day,home to swim do Physio in our pool which is possible the best possible exercise routine.Low impact with maximum gain.Saw my surgeon yesterday said I was going excellent doesn't need to see me again.Just saying.I've got 4 replacements now and feeling great no more pain.yeha.

Hey Sandee hope you're going well and doing plenty of foiling.Yeah another four to five weeks & I probably won't be able to help myself.My toys need some water time and so do I.So hanging out already not even a month.Arrrh.

I'm still trying to get up! I had both my knees replaced a couple of years ago and hadn't tried it at that stage. I am back windsurfing, surfing and SUP, also playing roller-derby, but struggling with the wingfoil. I have pain kneeling and find the transition to standing awkward. I think if you have one knee with full flexion you would definitely have a huge advantage. I'm currently on the look out for a big board to hopefully make things easier. Having a knee replacement is a big deal but recovery and rehab is really up to you. The more you want it, the better you do