Ortho Giants Pair with Sports Icons

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The promise of orthopedic joint replacement is “new life” through increased movement and activity—particularly for an increasingly younger patient demographic. Nothing embodies that more than a sports professional that has benefitted from an implant.

At this year’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., a pair of orthopedic giants have announced partnerships with equally big names in sports.

Memphis, Tenn.-based Smith & Nephew, Inc. is partnering with famed sports icon and humanitarian Billie Jean King to highlight her success following her double knee replacement with a Smith & Nephew product. Fred Funk, one of the most recognizable names in professional golf, has become a spokesperson Stryker Corporation’s Orthopaedics division.

A year ago, King had double knee replacement surgery, receiving Smith & Nephew’s Legion knee. Following the success of her procedure, the icon wanted to share her story about how the implant has allowed her to regain her mobility.

“For nearly four decades, I was in a downward spiral of pain and compromise due to my knees, which eventually forced me out of my beloved sport. The most frustrating aspect for me was that my mind and spirit were aligned and motivated, but my body wouldn’t cooperate,” King said. “The mental and emotional shift my new knees have provided me has been tremendous; I feel like I’m 20 again, and I’m back on the courts playing tennis.”

According to AAOS, there are approximately 581,000 knee replacements performed in the United States each year.

A 20-year professional golf veteran and current member of the PGA Tour, Funk underwent a total knee replacement with Stryker’s Triathlon knee system in November 2009 and later won the 2010 JELD-WEN Tradition, becoming the first player ever to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event after total knee replacement surgery.

“After debilitating pain in my right knee began to impact my ability to compete as a professional athlete—and more importantly—maintain an active lifestyle, my orthopaedic surgeon recommended a Stryker Triathlon knee implant. After a three-month recovery I was back on the Champions Tour playing a full tournament schedule,” said Funk. “I hope my story will prove to millions of Americans suffering from knee pain that knee surgery can enable them to return to their active lifestyle.”

During his golf career, Funk has scored PGA Tour victories at the 2007 Mayakoba Golf Classic; 2005 The PLAYERS Championship, 2004 Southern Farm Bureau Classic; 1998 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic; 1996 B.C. Open; 1995 Ideon Classic at Pleasant Valley; 1995 Buick Challenge; and 1992 Shell Houston Open. On the Champions Tour, in 2010 he ranked sixth on the money list and has secured victories at the 2010 JELD-WEN Tradition; 2009 U.S. Senior Open; 2008 JELD-WEN Tradition; 2008 Mitsubishi Electric Championship; 2007 Turtle Bay Championship; and 2007 AT&T Classic.
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Like many, Funk had been suffering with knee pain for several years and had gone through numerous surgeries to repair torn cartilage in his right knee, subsequently having it drained of fluid 18 times. In 2009, after discussing his options with Dr. R. David Heekin, medical director of the Orthopedic Center of Excellence at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., the 54-year-old Maryland native decided upon knee replacement surgery.

As a spokesperson for the company, Funk will help to educate current and prospective knee replacement patients around the country, drawing upon his experiences with osteoarthritis, knee replacement, and the recovery process.

In 2009, King was the first female athlete awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation’s highest civilian honor) by President Obama. The 67-year-old King is the holder of 39 Grand Slam titles, the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, Women’s Sports Foundation, and Women’s Sports magazine, and co-founded the groundbreaking co-ed tennis league World TeamTennis, and GreenSlam, an environmental initiative for the sports industry. She was also named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life magazine in 1990.