REVIEWS   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2014 June;65(3):237-42

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Returning to sports after total hip arthroplasty

Thorey F., Giotis D., Cortez R. ✉

Center for Hip, Knee and Foot Surgery, ATOS hospital for Special Surgery, Heidelberg, Germany

The purpose of total hip replacement is to relieve pain, not to make better athletes. Still, the modern patient is likely to return to recreation and sports. There is no current consensus on the safety of resuming athletics, though a surgeon’s judgment and a patient’s common sense will serve as appropriate guidelines. The issue of athletic participation after hip arthroplasty has become more relevant in recent years, with an increase in the number of young and active patients receiving joint replacements. The article reviews patient surgery, implant and sports related factors and discusses currently available guidelines that should be considered by the physician when counseling patients regarding a return to athletic activity after total joint arthroplasty. Current evidence regarding appropriate athletic participation after total hip arthroplasty is also reviewed. Patients should be encouraged to be active after total joint arthroplasty, and this may include participation in athletic activity. Patient and surgeon should consider the patient’s general health, previous athletic experience, surgical approach, implant characteristics, and the demands of a particular sport when determining whether participation in that sport is advisable.