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

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.

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

DWF said..
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.

That's amazing, well done her. Gives me hope.

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..
...My thoughts were I would have issues flexing and kneeling, which I do a lot of climbing back on

A big board, like others have suggested, can reduce how often you have to climb back on a lot. My dry jibe rate goes from 60% to more than 90% when I go from 115 l to 140 l. Flat water instead of chop can make an even bigger difference.

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.

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.

Select to expand quote

rgmacca said..

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.

Well the doctor wasn't doing my left hip replacement until I turned 60yrs because the replacements joints last approximately 20 years .I'll be 80 then.Just have to deal with that issue when or if it arises.In the meantime my chronic joint pain is zero before 6-7-8-9 out of 10.Good luck with it find a good young 40 ish Ortherpedic surgeon get on the waiting list.

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

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.

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.

Select to expand quote

Leighbreeze said..

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.

Great to hear about your progress! It certainly sounds like close to best possible exercise/rehab regime; just add in a good daily wing foiling session (as soon as you can get up on the board) and it'll be perfect, yes?

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.

Select to expand quote

Leighbreeze said..

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.

That's inspiring, you've done really well to get to where you are now. Thanks for sharing.

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

Bigger boards are a big help when getting up.Sort of reached my limit with the smallest Litreage being 120L 5'11 x 24" so 10L more than my body weight,more of a struggle in chop.Mid size or full size DW boards work better getting up after Knee & hip replacements.Anyway it's worth the effort.

Select to expand quote

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 :-)

Helpful thread! After 5 years of happy wing foiling the right knee suddenly went from just slightly irritated (from old meniscus tears in 2017) to popping, grinding, instability/pain around mid November. Ortho doc visit showed I have medial bone-on-bone, serious Osteoarthritis with bone spurs all over, and 8 deg misalignment (bow legged). The damage was slowly building but apparently it all gave way at once. Total knee replacement (TKR) scheduled for March 6th (Mako robot assist), so I won't be back on the water till around June(ish). My last decent wing session was Sept 15th, so over 8 months off the water! Sucks, but very thankful there is a way past this.

I've always done that raised kneel position "on-all-fours" start method AKLPhil mentioned on my 78l board (I'm 66, 6 ft, 75kg) with my stiff right knee. See vid. Hoping the same thing will work after surgery with some really good knee pads added. My wimpy old guy strapless flat-water routine doesn't seem like it would stress a TKR that much from what I've seen. Last thing I was working on were variations on a "wing flip to backwinded". I know that the religion here is flag-out/ride swell, and gear talk 24-7, so my flat-water thing might not be the norm, but I have a lot of fun with it. Have some left shoulder issues so my Heineken jibe is more like a "neck" duck jibe. Age adapting...

?si=p4npTeDtBuZFD-8S

Select to expand quote

Dspace 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 :-)

Helpful thread! After 5 years of happy wing foiling the right knee suddenly went from just slightly irritated (from old meniscus tears in 2017) to popping, grinding, instability/pain around mid November. Ortho doc visit showed I have medial bone-on-bone, serious Osteoarthritis with bone spurs all over, and 8 deg misalignment (bow legged). The damage was slowly building but apparently it all gave way at once. Total knee replacement (TKR) scheduled for March 6th (Mako robot assist), so I won't be back on the water till around June(ish). My last decent wing session was Sept 15th, so over 8 months off the water! Sucks, but very thankful there is a way past this.

I've always done that raised kneel position "on-all-fours" start method AKLPhil mentioned on my 78l board (I'm 66, 6 ft, 75kg) with my stiff right knee. See vid. Hoping the same thing will work after surgery with some really good knee pads added. My wimpy old guy strapless flat-water routine doesn't seem like it would stress a TKR that much from what I've seen. Last thing I was working on were variations on a "wing flip to backwinded". I know that the religion here is flag-out/ride swell, and gear talk 24-7, so my flat-water thing might not be the norm, but I have a lot of fun with it. Have some left shoulder issues so my Heineken jibe is more like a "neck" duck jibe. Age adapting...

?si=p4npTeDtBuZFD-8S

I hope all goes well and wish you a speedy recovery. Report back on how it all goes. In the UK looking at a 2yr wait on the NHS !