"That pulls right back in the glutes again,” says 50 year-old Pamela Ensley.

Ensley’s a recreational soccer player, a wild land firefighter, a mother and she’s recovering from micro fracture hip surgery.

Five weeks after her surgery, Ensley’s at OHSU for physical therapy in the Center for Health and Healing’s rehabilitation pool.

Her goal is to get back to her active lifestyle. She hasn’t once thought of slowing down. Ensley has a classic case of boomeritis.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, active baby boomers account nationally for more than one million injuries a year.

Those injuries amount to 19 billion dollars in medical bills.

“Last year I had two really bad falls. Once in exercise class and one in the ice and snow,” says 61-year-old Linda Johnson.

At the front end of the boomer generation, Johnson is about to have knee surgery; in part so she can continue skiing.

“Am I too old to be having this surgery? I know it’s not done to a lot of people in their 60’s,” Johnson asked her surgeon.

Both Johnson and Ensley recognize age is not on their side. They know they’re getting older, but they know they don’t want to live a life in a rocking chair.

“My dad, he’s the perfect example He’s 86 and he still skis,” says Johnson.

Just ten years ago, injuries like Ensley’s and Johnson’s might have been untreatable. But, with advancements of technology a 50 year-old hip can now be repaired just like a teenagers.

Dr. Andrea Herzka performed Ensley’s micro fracture surgery in August. She’ll replace Johnson’s anterior cruciate ligament in January.

“As a sports surgeon, that’s our goal. We aim to get people to the maximal function level regardless of age” says Herzka.

Herzka says each case must be evaluated independently and surgery isn’t always required.

“There’s a lot of people walking around without an ACL that are doing just fine. So it depends on the patient,” says Herzka.

For Ensley, she hopes to return to the soccer field by spring. You’ll likely find Johnson on the ski slopes next winter.