Arthroplasty and Tennis: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• An active lifestyle offers significant health benefits, with tennis being a lifelong sport accessible to various age groups.
• This review examines the feasibility and medical advisability of playing tennis after hip, knee, ankle, and shoulder joint arthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current literature on tennis participation (singles and doubles) following hip, knee, ankle, and shoulder arthroplasty.
• To provide clinicians with evidence-based guidance for advising and treating patients aiming to return to tennis.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review was conducted.
• Literature search performed across PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, UpToDate, and Springer using keywords 'tennis' and 'arthroplasty'.

Main Results:

• Return-to-play rates varied by joint: hip (7-62.5%), knee (0-62.5%), ankle (0-30%), shoulder (0-100%).
• Surgeon clearance for tennis was generally high, especially for hip and shoulder replacements.
• Mean return-to-play was 5-7 months; no increased complication rate linked to tennis was proven.

Conclusions:

• Tennis can be continued post-arthroplasty, with higher rates for hip, knee, and shoulder replacements compared to ankle.
• Return-to-play timelines (3-6 months for experienced players) depend on individual factors.
• Patients require personalized assessment and counseling regarding potential, though unproven, risks like implant wear or loosening.