Joint Replacement
Joint Replacements — Shoulder & Knee
When cartilage wears down beyond repair, joint replacement relieves pain and restores movement — planned around your own anatomy, with robotic precision where it counts.
What Is Joint Replacement Surgery?
Relief when cartilage can no longer cushion the joint
Joint replacement surgery is a highly successful orthopedic procedure designed to relieve pain and restore movement when a joint becomes severely damaged. Over time, cartilage — the smooth tissue that cushions your bones — can wear down due to arthritis, injury, or natural aging, leading to stiffness, swelling, and discomfort.
Joint replacement involves removing the damaged joint surfaces and replacing them with implants made of durable, biocompatible materials such as metal, ceramic, or polyethylene. At Elite Sports Medicine, we specialize in shoulder and knee replacement — two of the most commonly affected joints in athletes and active adults — using advanced digital imaging so each implant is customized to your anatomy, and minimally invasive technique to preserve healthy tissue and shorten recovery.
Learn more about total knee replacement, MAKO robotic-assisted knee replacement, and total shoulder replacement.
Why Choose Elite
Precision planning, personalized rehab
Expert Orthopedic Surgeons
Fellowship-trained in sports medicine and reconstructive surgery, with hundreds of successful knee and shoulder replacements.
Advanced Surgical Technology
Robotic and computer-assisted systems achieve precise implant alignment and balance, minimizing complications and improving long-term outcomes.
Customized Treatment Plans
Surgical and rehabilitation plans built around your body structure, lifestyle, and recovery goals.
Personalized Rehabilitation Care
In-house physical therapy designs progressive rehab that promotes safe mobility and a faster, more confident return to activity.
Benefits
What joint replacement can restore
- Restores mobility and strength to damaged shoulder and knee joints
- Eliminates chronic pain caused by arthritis or joint degeneration
- Reduces stiffness and promotes smooth, natural joint motion
- Improves stability and balance for walking, climbing, and activity
- Minimizes postoperative pain and shortens recovery time
- Allows a return to sports and daily activity with confidence
FAQ
Joint replacement questions, answered
Joint replacement is often recommended for severe arthritis, cartilage loss, fractures, or degenerative joint disease that causes persistent pain and stiffness. When medication, physical therapy, or injections no longer provide relief, joint replacement offers an effective, long-term solution.
Recovery varies by age, health, and the joint replaced. Most patients begin light movement within a day or two and notice significant improvement within 6-12 weeks. Full recovery, including strength and range of motion, can take up to six months.
Joint replacements are considered highly safe and reliable, with success rates exceeding 90%. Modern implants made from titanium and medical-grade polyethylene can last 15-20 years or more with proper care.
Shoulder replacement restores rotation and lifting motion of the arm, while knee replacement focuses on stability, alignment, and weight-bearing function. Both rely on precise implant positioning and individualized post-surgery rehabilitation.
Most patients return to an active lifestyle, including low-impact sports such as swimming, cycling, or golf. With proper rehabilitation and muscle strengthening, many resume moderate athletic activity.