5 Famous Athletes Who Had Knee or Hip Replacements
Arthritis of the hip or knee can not only be painful, but it can also cause people to give up their favorite activities. And here in the mountains, that means mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and sometimes even everyday pleasures like taking a nice walk amongst beautiful scenery.
Luckily, when you've exhausted all the non-operative treatments, you still have the option of a knee or hip replacement. As I've stated here before, our knowledge and technology have advanced to the point that we are very confident that the choice of a knee or hip replacement can get you back to doing the things you love.
You don't have to look far to find someone who has had a successful knee or hip replacement, and there are plenty in our active community. But maybe you need a little "famous-person" type of inspiration!
Today, Team Cafferky will deliver with our list of 5 famous athletes-turned-celebs who have had hip or knee replacements.
Let's get right to it!
John Elway — Denver Broncos Super-Bowl Winning Quarterback & General Manager - Knee Replacement
John Elway is one of Denver's well-known celebrity athletes. His name is ubiquitous in Colorado, both for his decades-spanning involvement with the team and his business ventures (including a steakhouse that is walking distance from our own Vail offices!)
When it comes to winning, Elway is the man. He led the team to two Super Bowl victories as a player, and another as General Manager of the team. We could go on and on talking about his football accolades, but you probably already know plenty about this NFL great.
Something you might not know: Elway had to have a knee replacement in 2007, after playing his entire career with almost no ACL left in his knee. Even though the original knee was in bad shape, he never had ACL reconstruction surgery, opting instead to continue playing through pain and discomfort.
Although Elway is sometimes cited as an example of what an athlete can do with no ACL, that was a different era-- it wasn't a good idea at the time, and it's something we don't recommend anyone doing in this day and age. Luckily for him, his new knee can keep him calling the shots for the Orange Crush for a long time.
Gabrielle Reece - Volleyball Star, Actress, Model, Announcer (Knee Replacement)
Gabrielle Reece was one of our first "crossover stars" who seamlessly moved from athletics to a public life filled with a wide range of appearances, including broadcasting and modeling. Well known for her powerful athleticism, striking appearance, and her marriage to big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, Gabrielle has long been an inspiration for women who want to live a full life on their own terms.
AND did you know that Gabrielle had a joint replacement? In 2016 she had her knee replaced. "After playing volleyball on and off for 25 years and attempting to manage my knee pain through exercise, diet, and physical therapy, my knee had become non-functional," said Gabrielle in an interview in the U.S. News and World Report. "As I started preparing for my surgery, I knew it was critical for me to be an informed and involved patient."
Gabrielle chose to manage her pain post-surgery without opioids, a process she details in the aforementioned article.
Laird Hamilton - Big Wave Surfer & Ocean Activist (Hip Replacement)
Guess, what, Gabrielle Reece isn't the only one in the family to have a joint replacement— her husband, the big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton was also the recipient of a new joint. Known as one of the worlds premier watermen, Laird had his hip replaced in 2016, and he also had the procedure done during "awake surgery."
With new surgical techniques (outpatient total joints, awake surgeries, and robotic surgical assists being among them), we will continue to see more of our top athletes in sports like surfing, skiing, and snowboarding relying upon joint replacement technology to keep them doing the sports they became famous for.
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Bodybuilder, Actor, Businessman, Former Governor of California (Hip Replacement)
When it comes to big personalities, big bodies, and big success stories, they don't come much bigger than Arnold. He was so successful as an actor and well-known for his political career that some people forget that he initially made his name as our most famous "Mister Universe," a title given to the world's top bodybuilders.
You know all that lifting weights and all that jumping around on the set of action movies puts stress on the body, which is why it's not a massive surprise that Arnold had a hip replacement.
The interesting thing to note here is that he actually had his joint replacement at age 55, and moved on quickly to film the third “Terminator” movie soon after. Even after all the stress and travel of a political career, that same joint is still going, even after a resurgent film career for The Governator. He's a great example of what you can do with a joint replacement, even years after surgery.
Bill Walton - NCAA/NBA Basketball Star, Announcer, and TV Personality
Bill Walton was one of the all-time great college basketball players. And although he suffered a myriad of injuries during his pro career, he still managed to win a couple of NBA championships, with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics.
Unfortunately for Bill, constant knee problems sapped his potential and skill, and his injury-riddled career serves as one of the great "what-ifs" in pro sports history. Down the line, sports doctors realized that Walton had naturally valgus knees (meaning he is knock-kneed), which can lead to a higher number of knee injuries. However, at the time, this wasn't yet recognized as a significant risk factor. Perhaps today, with greater access to modern surgical techniques and modern equipment (including more supportive shoes), Walton would have reached his potential.
Bill has also enjoyed a long and fruitful career as an announcer, and many of us have heard his signature style of storytelling while tuning into an NBA or college game. While his narrative choices put him squarely in the "take it or leave it" category, no one can argue that Walton has left an indelible mark on the game of basketball with his play and his personality.
Not surprisingly, after all the wear and tear, Bill has had a knee replacement, one many orthopaedic procedures he has undergone. And while you probably won't see him loping around on the court, you may be able to catch Bill swimming laps or lifting weights somewhere in Southern California— these are two of the activities you will likely be able to do after your own joint replacement.
Starting Your Own Joint Replacement Journey? Call Team Cafferky Today
We hope you found these celebrity athletes with joint replacements to be inspiring for your own journey. Want to learn how joint replacement can help you keep doing the things you love? Call Team Cafferky today: (970) 476-1100.
