Contrary to popular belief, undergoing knee surgery does not equate to sacrificing an active lifestyle. Cary Califf, 66, a Memphian who claims to feel 10 years his junior since undergoing double knee surgery, shows that the proof truly is in the pudding.
From his high school days through college and beyond, Cary played tennis competitively until a left-foot stress fracture halted his game at 40. “After being in a boot for 18 weeks, I switched over to playing golf,” he says of the low-impact alternative that offers similar core and hand-eye coordination benefits.
However, around 2016, Cary noticed worsening issues with his right knee. “I was in a lot of constant pain,” he recalls gruffly of the meniscus tear, “like a bone-on-bone type of pain.” The meniscus is a gel-like cushion that fits into the inside of the kneecap and on top of the tibia. It can wear out over time due to repeated hard impacts.
Following two years of gel and cortisone shots, knee braces, and a meniscus repair surgery, Cary was left with one option to relieve the stubborn pain: a partial knee replacement surgery.
“You get to a point where it becomes so mentally debilitating, and you can’t get up in the morning to go to the gym,” he recalls. Cary had knee replacement surgery on his right knee in November 2022 and his left knee more recently in November 2024.
It was around this time that Cary was recommended to check out Accel Performance and Wellness, a sports performance, training, and rehabilitation facility operated by Drew Graham. It is located on the same campus as Campbell Clinic, a renowned medical group specializing in orthopedic care, sports medicine, and physical therapy.
There, Cary worked with Brad Langley, a physical therapist and performance coach at the Campbell Clinic, to reduce area swelling and incrementally increase the flexion degree of his kneecaps over several weeks. He then began to gradually introduce training sessions with Brad on the Accel Performance side.
“Brad is really good at getting the knee back. Accel has some of the best equipment in the country and is connected to an unbelievable physical therapy program and leading orthopedic surgeons,” he shares. “They have all kinds of specialized equipment for knees.” Now, Cary splits his time at Accel between taking 50-minute group exercise classes, training with Brad, and stretching.
“The surgery fixed all of my knee problems, and I have zero pain. The rehab worked for me, and now I am back out there playing really good golf again, and my core is stronger than ever from my work with Brad.”
“It all boils down to a commitment to rehab and working out,” Cary explains. “You have got to put in the work to keep your body going in the right direction as you get older.”
“It is unbelievable how good I feel every day when I get out of bed,” Cary adds, beaming. “My body feels great, and I am still able to maintain an active lifestyle.”
To learn more about the Campbell Clinic, visit Campbellclinic.com. To see all that Accel Performance offers, visit Accelperformance.com or call 901.759.3151.
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Tindall Stephens
