Selinsgrove man, 77, still lifting weights after double hip replacement

Dennis Hilbert of Selinsgrove has a “move it or lose it” mindset when it comes to his physical activity. He likes weightlifting and has been pumping iron since he was a teenager. He continues to lift weights today, at the age of 77.

He doesn’t lift the same amount of weight that he used to, but he works on a steady, slow progression and mixes in stretches and mobility movements.

“I have always enjoyed weightlifting,” he says. “I work out religiously three days a week and try to get some cardio in as well. I have some equipment I use in my basement and go to Planet Fitness in Shamokin Dam.”

During his years of lifting, Hilbert had several remarkable personal bests, including lifting 245 pounds over his head, completing a 450-pound deadlift, squatting 375 pounds and bench-pressing 245 pounds. 

Along with lifting weights, he was a surfer, enjoyed water skiing and riding his motorcycle and was an avid scuba diver. But all that activity took a toll on his body over the years. He’s had his share of injuries, surgeries and physical therapy, but through it all, he’s remained active. 

“I just want to keep going,” he says.

Hilbert was a New Jersey state police officer for 15 years. At age 50, seemingly never afraid of a challenge, he returned to school to become a physical therapist assistant.

“I went to Edison Community College in Fort Myers (now called Florida SouthWestern State College),” he said. “I worked as a physical therapist assistant for 22 years in Florida. I did three rotations in three Florida hospitals.”

He and his wife, Joyce, moved to Selinsgrove in 2022 to be closer to her family. Not long after moving to the area, Hilbert began having pain in his hips that was affecting his quality of life and his ability to work out.

“My hips were hurting me to the point I could not walk distance of any kind without pain. My gait was distorted, and I’d have to stop and rest several times,” he said. “I figured it was just part of life and wear and tear on the joints.”

His primary care physician referred him to Geisinger for a consultation with James Widmaier Jr., M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon.

“Dennis came to us with bilateral hip arthritis. Nothing too unusual for a man of his age, except he is no average 77-year-old,” Dr. Widmaier. “He lifts at numbers that most people in their 20s and 30s can’t do. We bonded immediately over his workout routines and my own training.”

Dr. Widmaier recommended a total hip replacement for Hilbert’s left hip, which was the worse of the two joints. Because of Hilbert’s activity level, Dr. Widmaier elected to use an anterior approach for the hip replacement.

This is a minimally invasive technique, typically reserved for younger patients, that uses a small incision on the front of the hip to replace the damaged hip joint with an artificial implant. It often results in a faster recovery and less post-operative pain for patients. Patients can return more quickly to walking and weight bearing post-surgery — but weightlifting? Well...

“He self-admittedly was a bit too active right after his first replacement, and his surgical wound did not heal well and required another quick surgery to clean out the area and reclose,” Dr. Widmaier said. “But it eventually healed fine.”

Hilbert said he felt so good after recovering from the first hip replacement that he decided to have the right one done. Dr. Widmaier performed that surgery earlier this year, and Hilbert healed very well and quickly from the procedure.

“Not every patient can do this, but every patient should see the benefit of weight training at advanced ages,” Dr. Widmaier said. “Maintenance of lower extremity muscle mass is correlated with life expectancy and fall prevention. Dennis shows that despite two replacements, an active lifestyle can be resumed and enjoyed without pain after successful procedures.”

Hilbert said he is feeling great and continues to remain active. He has returned to doing dead lifts, full squats and push-ups, and he just started bench presses again.

“As I continue to work out and get stronger, I have more confidence and mobility. I am sorry I waited so long to have this done,” he said. “Thanks to Dr. Widmaier, I can do almost everything again. I highly recommend him.”