Nicklas Backstrom’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. De Smet 2022
Original Article: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35377168/how-nicklas-backstrom-accelerating-return-ice-hip-surgery Article by Emily KaplanESPN January 5, 2023
The Washington Capitals center’s nagging left hip had deteriorated to the point where he had a hard time putting on his socks and shoes. He struggled to play with his kids (ages 9, 6 and 2). He walked around the team facility with a limp…
…Only two active NHL players before have had their hips resurfaced. Defenseman Ed Jovanovski underwent 10 months of rehabilitation after his 2013 procedure, then played in 36 games before getting bought out and subsequently retiring; forward Ryan Kesler never played again after his hip resurfacing in 2019….
…He found two hockey players in Sweden who did it, as well as Isaiah Thomas of the NBA and Andy Murray in tennis….
(Backstrom had hip resurfacing with Dr. De Smet in 2022)
…he was in the pool swimming three days after surgery. He was able to walk without crutches within two weeks. Within two months, he was lifting weights. And within four months he was back on the ice…
…”I felt good quicker than I thought,” Backstrom said. “And when I stepped on the ice, it was a game-changer for me. I could turn, pivot with no hiccups.”…