Barnes expands Olson’s longstanding connection to the U of A Arthritis Center

This time, however, it was about her aches and pains as a retired basketball player. She played professionally for 13 seasons, both in North America and abroad, after four seasons as a star on the court for Arizona.

This time she revealed in an interview with “Star” that she will need a knee replacement – ​​both. …ultimately.

After spending years on her knees, suffering a torn ACL and resulting arthritis, Barnes works with her friend Dr. Kent Kwoh, director of the University of Arizona Arthritis Center, is working to delay these surgeries as long as possible.

She stays in shape, gets injections for the pain and now uses a new, special knee brace.

Barnes knows she’s not the only one. So many of her former teammates suffer from arthritis, and she estimates that 10 of her 14 current Wildcats will most likely face the disease at some point in their lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in three adults suffers from arthritis.

That’s why it was a perfect fit when the Arthritis Center looked for another trainer from Arizona to champion the cause.

Nearly 40 years ago, legendary men’s basketball coach Lute Olson started the partnership between the Arthritis Center and the athletic department.

Now, Barnes continues Olson’s legacy.

On Oct. 10, Barnes spoke at the Bear Down Celebration, the Arthritis Center’s fundraiser.

“Anything you can carry on from coach Lute Olson is just an honor to be a part of,” Barnes said.

“They could have chosen anyone to do this. It just means a lot because he only represented certain causes. This was his baby for years, and when they asked me to take it on, I was honored. It’s a really good center that does great work and world-renowned research.”

The Arthritis Center’s ultimate goal is to eradicate arthritis through research, education and care. Kwoh, who has been at the center since 2013, said he is motivated to do this important work because “When you see patients, you impact one person at a time. If you do your research, you can protect the community.”

“This is really important,” Kwoh added.

However, he still enjoys seeing patients like Barnes.

“It’s important to see patients; Unfortunately, former athletes have problems with arthritis and osteoarthritis,” said Kwoh. “Injuries are really a huge problem and that’s part of what we do, which is to study osteoarthritis and try to understand risk factors and early detection so that we can ultimately have better treatments and hopefully one day a cure.”

This is the third year that Barnes has participated in the event. There have been spectator restrictions in place for the past two years due to COVID-19.

This time the event was sold out. In a room of more than 300 people, Barnes spoke about how she “can’t bend and can’t move” and that she sometimes needs three consecutive vaccinations to relieve the arthritis in her knees.

“It’s a harsh reality, but we all go through it,” Barnes told those in attendance.

Barnes brought her entire team to this year’s event, a move reminiscent of what Olson used to do — although it seemed different back then, according to former UA star Reggie Geary.

Geary, who played for Olson from 1992 to 1996 and currently works as a development director in the UA’s athletic department, recalled golf outings long ago when he was with Olson and supporters of the cause.

“Any time you put sticks in the hands of a group of basketball players when you’ve never held a stick before, that can be a dangerous thing,” Geary said with a laugh.

“I remember the donors always enjoyed it and had a great time. They probably didn’t know it then, but they know it now. It raised a lot of money and did a lot of good in the community. I like the fact that the women’s team was here. “I had a little more exposure to what this cause was about and how it might impact their lives going forward.”

It was always Barnes’ plan to bring her team to this annual event. It’s about being in the community and connecting their players “with great people on campus, and it’s a great organization,” she said.

Throughout the evening, Barnes and her players, as well as UA athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois, answered questions from the audience. Barnes stayed until an hour after the event ended, chatting with many of those in attendance.

Tracy Shake has known Barnes since she was a 17-year-old college freshman in Arizona. Shake worked directly with former UA coach Joan Bonvicini and the women’s basketball team as part of the athletic department’s communications team and as director of the department’s CATS Life Skills program. She said that Barnes “is the same; she really is.”

Shake, now the Arthritis Center’s director of outreach and education, added, “She has always been someone who recognized that community is incredibly important.”