Recommendations for Sport and Physical Activity after total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Abstract Due to the high success of arthroplasty, patients suffering from osteoarthritis have higher expectations regarding the relief of pain, functional recovery and capacity to perform physical and sports activity. The purpose of our article is to present a literature review based on papers published during the last decades, with emphasis on the current recommendations regarding sports after total joint replacement. We conducted a search using PubMed/Medline databases, selecting the scientific articles published between 2005-2020 which discuss the association between physical activity and total hip or knee arthroplasty. The benefits of physical activity in all kinds of joint prostheses outweigh the negative effects; therefore, the recommendation for low-impact sports (hiking, swimming, cycling or golf) at a moderate intensity is considered valid and patients with total hip or knee arthroplasty who preoperatively had a high level of physical activity can return to low-impact sports performed at moderate intensity after 3-6 months.