Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
The Transition to an Anterior-Based Muscle Sparing Approach Improves Early Postoperative Function but is Associated with a Learning Curve
Published on: September 7, 2022
Stairway to Heavenly Results: Do Stairs Affect Postoperative Recovery After Total Joint Arthroplasty?
H Sadiyya Ingawa1, Joshua P Rainey1, Claire R Kapron1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Background:
A common concern for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) or knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the presence of stairs in their home. However, there is currently no evidence to suggest how stairs affect postoperative recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate how stairs impact patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and physical activity metrics following TKA or THA in relatively young, active patients.
Methods:
A secondary analysis of data from a multicenter, prospective study evaluated steps-per-day, flights of stairs, gait speed, and percent walking asymmetry along with the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and either Hip dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS JR) or Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS JR) preoperatively and at one, three, six, and 12 months postoperatively. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate PROs and physical activity metrics over time in the presence or absence of stairs in the household. In total, 3,965 patients were included in the study, 1,609 undergoing THA (61% with stairs), and 2,356 undergoing TKA (53% with stairs).
Results:
Patients who had stairs at home climbed significantly more daily flights of stairs compared to patients who did not have stairs (P < 0.01). There was no difference in steps-per-day, gait speed, or percent walking asymmetry (P > 0.05) between THA or TKA patients in the stairs and no stairs cohorts at any time point, except for gait speed in THA patients at six months (0.03 m/s higher improvement for those with stairs (P = 0.036)). There was no difference in EQ-5D, HOOS JR, or KOOS JR (P > 0.05) between groups at any time point.
Conclusions:
Overall, patients had similar PROs and physical activity metrics following THA or TKA regardless of whether they had stairs at home. This information may be of utility when counseling patients regarding discharge disposition and recovery expectations.
