A study was presented at the annual meeting held at American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon revealed that average age of patients undergoing hip replacement surgeries has decreased from 66 to 65 years. While that of knee replacement surgeries has decreased from 68 to 66 years.

It’s true that more women choose to have a joint replacement surgery but lately, men too are increasingly opting for total joint replacement surgery. If one delves into the reasons behind this decrease its obesity, changing lifestyle and expectations.

Dr. Matthew Sloan an orthopedic surgery resident in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has co-authored this study. He says that younger patients are choosing to have a surgery because, of increasing obesity. Also, the present generation has the desire to have an active lifestyle as they enter the retirement years.

Dr. Matthew Hepinstall is the associate director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Reconstruction at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York says that people expect to be active even after they cross the age of 50, infact even till the age of 70. He also mentions that the present generation has been active and athletic through adulthood, which has led to arthritic damage and injuries.

People with joint issues meet their friends who had a similar issue but, have got operated and now are back to normal life. This encourages people to opt for a surgery. Doctors too are advising patients to go for a surgery, which wasn’t the case thirty years ago.