Participation in sports after total knee replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Total knee replacement (TKR) aims to restore function and quality of life.
• Return to sports participation is a key outcome measure for TKR patients.
• Factors influencing sports return after TKR require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the rate and nature of return to regular sports activity after total knee replacement.
• To identify patient characteristics and pre-operative factors associated with sports participation post-TKR.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 160 patients (208 knees) who underwent TKR by a single surgeon.
• Data collected on pre-operative and post-operative sports participation, activity types, and follow-up duration (mean 5 years).
• Analysis of return-to-sport rates based on pre-operative activity levels and impact of coexisting conditions.

Main Results:

• 51 of 160 patients (31.9%) regularly participated in sports after TKR, compared to 79 (49.4%) before surgery.
• Patients were more likely to return to low-impact activities (e.g., bowls, 91%) than high-impact activities (e.g., tennis, 20%).
• Only 8 patients initiated sports post-surgery; 77% of pre-op athletes returned to sport, while none with pre-existing conditions preventing sports returned.

Conclusions:

• Return to regular sports activity after TKR is less common than pre-surgery participation.
• Pre-operative sports engagement and preference for low-impact activities are key predictors of post-TKR sports return.
• Coexisting medical conditions significantly hinder sports participation following TKR.