Master Frank Vanberghen

With this article I want to reach all ITF practitioners with hip problems to help them continuing practicing TKD.

In 1997 due to a motorcycle accident I had an hip injury. I was 5° degree at that time. A vain in the hip was touched and this caused “avascular necrosis” : because the blood did no longer reach the bone, it started to mortify. Walking and practicing taekwon-do became painful.

In 2001 it became very difficult for me to walk, even 100 meters was too long. The “classical” doctors were giving me some painkillers, saying : “ wait until you are 60 and then we will perform an operation, giving you a classical hip replacement. Just rest and stop practicing sports.”

As taekwon-do was my whole life I made some research on the internet about new systems. I found a system called “BHR” or “Birmingham resurfacing hip”. Finding a surgeon with the necessary skills was the next step, as the system was very new at the time. I found an orthopedic surgeon (Dr.Govaers in Dendermonde –Belgium), who had the skills and who wanted to learn more about the system.

In 2001 (age 48) the operation “total hip replacement” was done. New life… ITF again after 3 months! In October 2004 I became 7° degree. I believe nobody saw that I had an artificial hip.

Meantime I met a lot of people with similar hip problems. Master James Tjin-a-Ton from the Netherlands has the same hip replacement. In Belgium we have 2 black belts (instructors) having a BHR, without facing any problems. Master Sutherland from Scotland told me in Scotland a person with 2(!) of these replacements is very active again in TKD.

Resurfacing spares bone instead of replacing it

The cause of the hip replacement can be osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, avascular necrosis and hip dysplasia.

The BIRMINGHAM HIP was introduced in 1997 and has been unchanged since that time. All the other metal-on-metal resurfacings available worldwide today were introduced after the BIRMINGHAM HIP and are based in part on the BIRMINGHAM HIP design. Resurfacing surgery spares bone instead of replacing it and it’s giving back your active lifestyle. Whether your passion is sports, work or family activities, arthritis hip pain shouldn’t stop you. For thousands of younger, active patients with hip pain, the BHR hip has restored them to their active lives while allowing them to keep more of their original bone.

 
Difference between a classical hip replacement (left) and a Birmingham resurfacing hip (right).

Other athletes having a BHR:

Floyd Landis “After winning the 2006 Tour de France, Floyd finally got relieved from his severe hip pain with the BHR Hip”.

Cory Foulk “An endurance triathlete, Cory didn’t want to give in to his severe hip pain and give up his 30-year competitive lifestyle. He found out he didn’t have to. ”

Peter Webb “The pain relief and return to activity that BHR Hips provided inspired Peter to train for and complete the 2005 London Marathon. ”

Steve Beuerlein “Former NFL Quarterback, Steve Beuerlein has his life back thanks to the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing.”

Bob Arnot “Dr. Bob Arnot is back riding bikes and enjoying life since he opted to have both hips resurfaced.”

Scott Tinley “Two-time Ironman World Champion Scott Tinley is back surfing thanks to the pain relief provided by BHR.”

In the beginning the BHR was known as “a time buying system”. Today my surgeon Dr. Govaers showed me some statistics ….. It is not impossible having a BHR for a lifetime.

 
Left: Obtaining 7th degree. Right: Stretching with a BHR.

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Feel free to contact me if you have any questions,
Master Frank Vanberghen
Taekwondo1@telenet.be