Newswise — Mark Hanlon, who turns 74 next month, is more active than many people half his age. After two knee replacements, two hip replacements, a shoulder surgery and several ankle surgeries, he says, “everything works and I have a full, productive life.”

The Long Island resident says sports are a vital part of his life. He has an activity for every season and most days of the week. Sailing, sculling, tennis, bicycling, snow skiing and open-water swimming keep him busy year-round.

So, when he developed arthritis, he wasn’t about to let that stop him. “In my late 30s I felt the first twinge of pain in my right hip. Within a couple of years, it had worsened to the point that I needed care. I was told that I had arthritis likely from one of two serious falls as a young man,” he explained. “Because I was still young and active, I held off surgery until I hit 50, by which time I was using a cane.” He had his first hip replacement at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City more than 20 years ago, and it’s still holding up.  

Years later, at age 66, he felt the same pain in his other hip, and he had a second hip replacement at HSS. This time, with advances in surgical technique and technology, the former attorney says, “I was up and about the following day, and in six weeks I had forgotten all about it.”

“More aging meant more arthritis,” he explains, and in 2024 he had both knees replaced in two separate surgeries by Fred D. Cushner, MD, a knee and hip surgeon at HSS. Four months after his second knee replacement, he went skiing in Vermont. “I am now back to all my activities, and best of all, just being able to walk around town without pain,” adds Mr. Hanlon, who lives in Port Washington, a waterfront community on Long Island, New York.

Increasing numbers of people of all ages are adamant about maintaining active lifestyles, including sports participation, and joint replacement to relieve arthritis makes that possible, Dr. Cushner says. “We see people in their 80s and 90s who do really well with joint replacement. Advances in robotic-assisted surgery and implant design, techniques using smaller incisions, and improvements in pain control have greatly benefited patients,” he explains. These days, many patients leave the hospital the same day they have a hip or knee replacement.

Mr. Hanlon, who has no intention of slowing down, posted a video of himself skiing on the HSS Back in the Game website. In the clip, he thanks HSS for “the replacement parts” and for more than 22 great seasons of skiing. He is eyeing Argentina for his next ski trip, hoping that his son will go with him. 

This summer, he and his wife will head to Mexico for SwimTrek, an open-water swimming vacation designed for adventurous travelers who are experienced in going substantial distances in the water. 

About HSS

HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 16th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2025-2026), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2025-2026). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.