It’s easy to think that celebrities and athletes are immune to the same orthopedic problems as the rest of us, but the truth is that many well-known people have seen an orthopedic surgeon to correct musculoskeletal issues. Here is a list of 10 notable celebrities and athletes who underwent orthopedic care.
10 Athletes and Celebrities Who Have Received Orthopedic Care
1. John Elway
The quarterback of the Denver Broncos underwent knee replacement in 2007 after playing almost his entire career with no anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The ACL is the band of ligament that crosses in the middle of the knee to connect the thigh bone to the shin bone, and to stabilize the knee. A torn ACL used to be a career-ender for athletes, but orthopedic surgeons can often repair the ligament injury before it leads to a total knee replacement.
2. George Clooney
Movie star George Clooney suffered a back injury in 2005 while filming “Syriana,” when he hit his head and tore the dura, which is a delicate tissue that holds spinal fluid in the spine. Clooney eventually had spine surgery to stop the headaches and other symptoms he experienced as the result of the injury.
3. Gabrielle Reece
This volleyball star had a knee replacement in 2016, after struggling with arthritis for many years.
4. Laird Hamilton
Husband of Gabrielle Reece and big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton had a hip replacement in 2016.
5. Arnold Schwarzenegger
This bodybuilder, actor, businessman, and former governor also had a hip replacement at the age of 55, and just before filming the third “Terminator” movie.
6. Bill Walton
Bill Walton is basketball star, announcer, and TV personality hurt his left knee when he was a teenager, and had his first knee surgery at the age of 14. He was also born with structural congenital defects in his feet, and he broke his spine when he was 21. Walton eventually had his left knee replaced – the knee replacement was his 37th orthopedic procedure.
7. Tony Romo
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had been experiencing low back pain and sciatica that causes pain that runs down one leg. His orthopedic surgeons diagnosed him with a herniated disc, which is a condition in which the soft center of the rubbery disc that cushions the bones of the spine pushes through a crack in the outer casing of the disc. The surgeons performed a microdiscetomy, an operation in which doctors remove small fragments of disc, bone, and ligament. Relieved on his pain, Romo played for several more years.
Indianapolis Colts’ running back Ahmad Bradshaw, Houston Texas running back Arian Foster, and Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard also underwent orthopedic surgeries to correct herniated discs.
8. Dara Torres
This Olympic swimmer had orthopedic surgery to remove painful bone spurs and repair a partially torn rotator cuff. Tennis star Maria Sharapova also had surgery to repair a rotator cuff injury.
9. Jennifer Grey
The “Dirty Dancing” actress experienced severe neck pain after a car accident in 1987. She ignored the pain for decades. Grey had two spine surgeries to repair the damage before participating in the 2010 season of “Dancing with the Stars” and another surgery to repair a ruptured disc after the show.
10. Alex Rodriguez
Baseball star Alex Rodriguez received orthopedic care for a torn labrum and bone impingement in his left hip. The labrum is a rim of soft tissue that covers the socket of the hip joint; bone impingement is a condition in which the ball of the thigh bone pinches the socket. Doctors corrected the problems by performing a hip arthroscopy, a procedure in which orthopedic surgeons insert a small camera and tools through a tiny hole in the hip joint.
While most of us are not celebrities and athletes, many of us can benefit from orthopedic care. For more information about orthopedic doctors and the care they provide, contact Huntington Orthopedics.