How Not to Have a Hip Replacement

Hip replacements are a costly procedure that you can take steps to avoid

Tai chi and qigong are both excellent ways to increase hip mobility, strengthen muscles, and improve balance. Ulza/Shutterstock

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that each year, more than 450,000 Americans have their hips replaced—more than the entire population of Cleveland. According to the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, this surgery has been around for just over 50 years, since 1969.

Indeed, the surgery has become so common that older adults in America tend to talk about it as more a matter of when than if.