Golf After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Getting Back Into the Swing

Golf is a popular sport with an estimated 60 million participants worldwide. The sport remains popular among older adults, including those with a total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) because of the low-moderate intensity of the activity. Accordingly, golfers who are contemplating undergoing THA or TKA are interested in the rate of return to play, outcomes, and limitations after surgery. The factors affecting return to golf are numerous, including patient-specific factors and biomechanical changes in the hip and knee affecting the golf swing. Specifically, younger age, male sex, and lower body mass index are independent predictors of return to golf. Furthermore, changes in leg length, alignment, and implant type/position can also affect function and play. Despite these factors, golfing patients routinely demonstrate successful return to their sport with less pain and improved mobility after THA and TKA. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation, expectation setting to return to any recreational activity, patient-specific surgical planning, and a functional rehabilitation program can provide optimal outcomes in those wishing to return to golf after total joint arthroplasty.