Nordic walking potential for artificial hips

A young person who got a hip replacement at age 39 wrote about the experience and the development of artificial hips.

Main point: "…the materials in artificial hips have improved enough that doctors are now confident putting them in younger patients."

The scale of the operation: "In 2014—the most recent year for which data is available—370,770 people in the United States got a new hip. That number is increasing steadily: According to one recent study, by the year 2030, an estimated 635,000 people will receive a new artificial hip every year in the U.S."

Problems the researchers are still working on: "Today, one of the biggest problems with artificial hips is that they’re easier to dislocate than natural ones. Another is infection—a human-made hip has no blood flow, so bacteria can accumulate on it."

Since Nordic walking enhances the low impact nature of walking, those with artificial joints will benefit from a greater level of activity.