Preet Chandi—better known to the world as "Polar Preet"—doesn't exactly do things halfway. When she broke the world record for the longest solo, unsupported polar expedition by a woman in 2023, she wasn't just walking. She was dragging a 120kg sledge across 922 miles of punishing, wind-swept ice. It’s the kind of feat that makes your knees ache just reading about it. But the real story isn't just about the miles she covered; it's about the physical toll that surfaced afterward. Specifically, the Harpreet Chandi hip surgery and the grueling rehabilitation that followed.
Most people see the finish line photos. They see the flags and the smiles. They don't see the structural damage that occurs when you push the human body past its engineered limits for 70 days straight.
Why a Polar Explorer Needed Hip Surgery
Honestly, the human hip is a marvel, but it isn't designed to be a pack mule for two months in sub-zero temperatures. Chandi’s journey involved a constant, repetitive pulling motion known as "hauling." When you haul a pulk (that heavy sledge), your hip flexors and the labrum—the ring of cartilage that follows the outside rim of your hip joint socket—take a massive beating.
Following her record-breaking trek, Chandi began experiencing significant pain. This wasn't just "I'm tired" soreness. It was structural. While the specific clinical details of her diagnosis remain part of her private medical history, the surgery she underwent was a direct result of the cumulative trauma from her South Pole expeditions. Most athletes in this position face issues like labral tears or advanced bursitis.
It’s a weird paradox. You become the strongest version of yourself to survive the Antarctic, yet that very strength can mask underlying joint decay until you finally stop moving.
The Reality of Post-Expedition Recovery
Recovery is boring. There’s no other way to put it. For someone used to trekking 15 hours a day, sitting in a hospital bed or doing micro-movements in a physical therapy clinic is a special kind of mental torture.
The Harpreet Chandi hip surgery wasn't just a quick fix. It required a complete lifestyle overhaul. Post-operative care for hip procedures usually involves a strict "no-impact" phase. Think about that for a second. An elite endurance athlete told she can't even walk to the kitchen without crutches for weeks.
In her public updates and interviews with outlets like the BBC and various sports science podcasts, Chandi has been candid about the psychological dip. When your identity is "the woman who walks across continents," being stationary feels like losing a limb. She had to relearn how to engage her glutes and core without compensations.
The Physical Therapy Grind
It wasn't just about the hip. Because the body is a chain, her surgery meant her lower back and ankles had to be watched closely too.
- Initial mobility: Getting the joint to move without "catching."
- Proprioception: Re-teaching the brain where the leg is in space.
- Strength: Rebuilding the atrophied muscle after weeks of non-weight bearing.
She used hydrotherapy extensively. It’s basically the only way to get your heart rate up without smashing your new hip into the pavement. Watching her journey, you realize that the surgery was actually the easy part. The 400 hours of repetitive leg lifts that followed? That’s where the real grit shows up.
Debunking the "Indestructible Athlete" Myth
There's this annoying trend in sports media to act like elite athletes just "bounce back." We love a comeback story, but we hate the messy middle. The truth about the Harpreet Chandi hip surgery is that it served as a reality check for the adventure community.
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You can have the strongest mind in the world—and Preet clearly does—but bone and cartilage don't care about your "mindset." They have a breaking point. Experts in sports medicine, like those at the Isokinetic Medical Group, often point out that female athletes are at a statistically higher risk for certain hip impingements due to pelvic structure. Chandi's experience highlighted the need for gender-specific recovery protocols in extreme endurance sports.
What This Means for Her Future Expeditions
Is she done? Not even close.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, Chandi started pivoting her focus. While her hip surgery was a major hurdle, she’s already been back on the ice in smaller capacities. However, the "unsupported" nature of her future trips might change. When you've had major joint reconstruction, dragging 260 pounds of gear might not be the smartest long-term move.
She has spoken about the importance of "longevity over records." It's a shift in perspective that many veterans have to make. Instead of just going further, she’s looking at how to go more sustainably.
Actionable Lessons from Chandi’s Recovery
If you're dealing with a hip injury or looking at a major surgery yourself, Preet’s path offers a few genuine blueprints. This isn't just for polar explorers; it's for anyone who has pushed too hard.
Listen to the "Quiet" Pain
Chandi didn't wait until her leg gave out. She addressed the nagging ache that wouldn't go away. If a joint feels "stable but loud," it's time for an MRI. Catching a labral tear before it becomes full-blown osteoarthritis is the difference between a repair and a replacement.
The 1% Rule
On the ice, she moved one step at a time. In rehab, it was the same. Don't look at the mountain; look at the next three feet. If you can only move your toe today, move the hell out of that toe.
Cross-Training is Non-Negotiable
Her recovery proved that you can't just do your "thing." Runners need to swim. Polar explorers need to do Pilates. Variety isn't just the spice of life; it's the insurance policy for your joints.
Nutrition as Medicine
Post-surgery, she focused heavily on collagen synthesis and anti-inflammatory protocols. Antarctic rations are mostly fats and sugars for quick energy. Recovery requires high-quality protein and micronutrients that many athletes ignore during their "active" phase.
The Verdict on the Long-Term Impact
The Harpreet Chandi hip surgery will likely be remembered as a footnote in a legendary career, but for those in the medical and athletic community, it’s a case study in resilience. It shows that surgery isn't a "failure" of the body—it's a maintenance pit stop for a high-performance machine.
She’s currently focusing on mentorship and speaking engagements while her body continues to adapt to the "new normal" of a post-surgical joint. The ice will always be there, but now, she’s ensuring she has the structural integrity to enjoy it for decades, not just for the next world record.
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To replicate her success in your own recovery, prioritize professional physical therapy over "DIY" gym sessions. Ensure you have a surgical team that understands your specific activity goals, whether that's walking the dog or walking to the South Pole. Most importantly, give yourself the permission to be "slow" during the healing process. Even Polar Preet had to start with a single, shaky step.
Next Steps for Recovery Management:
- Consult a specialist: If you have deep groin pain that worsens with sitting or pivoting, seek a hip preservation specialist, not just a general orthopedist.
- Audit your gear: Like Chandi's sledge harness, ensure your daily equipment (shoes, chairs, car seats) isn't contributing to joint misalignment.
- Focus on the posterior chain: Strengthening the glutes and hamstrings is the best way to offload pressure from the hip joint itself.