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David Flory (r) and Rick Gautier (l) play a game of pickle ball.

Not a Step Slower: Knee Replacement Produce Maximum Strength, Mobility

July 23, 2018 | July 23, 2018 | Retired police chief David Flory, 59, and Rick Gautier, 66 play pickle ball together at the Village Church of Christ in Hot Springs Village.

The paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis is not the only thing they share.

They both recently had knee replacement surgery with Lowry Barnes, M.D., chair of the UAMS Department of Orthopaedics. Barnes is one of the region’s foremost joint replacement experts and is consistently named as one of the top orthopaedic surgeons in Arkansas.

The two friends had experienced knee problems for years.

“I knew I would ultimately have to have a knee replacement,” Flory said. “I’ve had five previous knee surgeries dating back to high school.” In September, he noticed his pain worsen significantly.

For Gautier, “I’ve had knee issues for a long time, but around last November it kept getting worse.” He got an MRI from his family doctor who recommended a knee replacement.

“He gave me the names of two surgeons,” Gautier said. “I chose Dr. Barnes.”

Flory said it was a quick decision for him as well to entrust his knee replacement to Barnes. “Everyone told me he is the best in the country.”

Both Gautier and Flory say they were up and moving the same day of surgery, discharged the following day, and seeing a physical therapist the day after that.

“You have to really push yourself through pain for a few weeks to get your mobility back,” Gautier said. “But after that if you keep up the exercises, it’s very good.”

Gautier started bowling seven weeks after surgery and played pickle ball at nine weeks. Eleven weeks after surgery, during a trip to Silver Dollar City, his fitness tracker says he took 14,000 steps and 27 flights of stairs.

Flory says within three weeks of the surgery he was back at his full capacity. He played tennis regularly before surgery, but decided he’d ease back into the game by starting with pickle ball because the movements are a little shorter.

“I wanted to test out my knee. I really expected I’d be a step slower or lose mobility and stability,” Flory said. “I did not. I’m back as good as I was but with no pain. It’s like I’ve never had a knee problem.”

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