Sports Participation Is an Appropriate Expectation for Recreational Athletes Undergoing Shoulder Arthroplasty

Several studies have investigated sports participation in patients who undergo total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). However, there are limited data in the setting of hemiarthroplasty (HA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), particularly regarding the frequency of participation in common sports.

The majority of patients who undergo TSA or HA will be able to maintain active lifestyles with high levels of sports participation after their procedure, while patients who undergo rTSA will have lower levels of sports participation.

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

We identified patients who underwent TSA, rTSA, stemmed HA, or humeral head resurfacing (the latter 2 were defined collectively as the HA group) by surgeons within our department since January 2004. We excluded patients who (1) underwent revision arthroplasty, (2) had a history of chronic pain syndrome, (3) experienced septic arthritis of the involved shoulder, and/or (4) were deceased at the time of follow-up. The minimum follow-up from the time of surgery was 2 years. Qualified patients were sent a questionnaire that asked about sports participation and the frequency of participation at the time of follow-up. Frequency was rated as 0, 1 to 3, or 4 to 7 times a week. Sports were defined as lower extremity sport, volleyball, tennis, skiing, bowling, swimming, weight lifting, golf, and other sport.

Overall, 95% of the TSA group, 40% of the rTSA group, and 76% of the HA group who had participated in at least 1 sport before surgery indicated that they were doing so at the time of follow-up. Among active patients in the TSA and HA groups, the most common sports at the time of follow-up were weight lifting (52%), swimming (36%), and golf (25%). For the 2 active patients in the rTSA group, 1 participated in swimming and hunting and fishing, while the other participated in weight lifting. For the active patients in the TSA and HA groups who were participating in at least 1 of the 3 most common sports, most patients indicated that they were doing so 1 to 3 times a week at the time of completing the questionnaire.

Patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty can maintain an active lifestyle with moderate to high frequencies of participation after surgery, particularly regarding weight lifting, swimming, and golf.