SAN DIEGO ,
March 10,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While participation in
pickleball and other sports is growing, data on returning to play
after joint arthroplasty (JA) is limited. Presented at the 2025
Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons (AAOS), a new study found that a majority of patients
who played racket sports were able to return to play after JA
within six months and at a similar skill level without an increase
in reoperation rates. Patients who returned to play also had higher
physical function scores after surgery compared to those who did
not return to play.
Racket sports are incredibly popular in the United States, fueled by pickleball which
has seen a 159% increase in participation since
2019.i Many who play racket sports are over the age
of 60, an age group which is more prone to hip and knee
osteoarthritis (OA), presenting overlap in racket sports
players and patients seeking JA.ii There is no clear
consensus on which activities are safe to resume following surgery,
varying by surgeon.iii
An online survey was sent to 7,200 patients who had undergone at
least one primary JA at a single academic center over the past
10 years (January 2014 to
October 2023). The survey asked
patients about their prior and current racket sports participation,
including ability level, expectations, limitations and
reoperations. Demographics, patient-reported outcomes, and
reoperations were also captured through chart review. All surveys
included Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System
v2.0 Physical Function and Short Form v1.1 Global Health (PROs)
regardless of playing status.
Of the 1,284 respondents, the average follow-up time was 3.6
years, and the average age was 66.9 years at the time of the
survey. Results included:
- Out of the total respondents, 61.7% (n =792) had never played a
racket sport, 25.3% (n = 325) had last played a racket sport more
than two years before JA (remote players), and 13.0% (n = 167) had
played a racket sport within two years prior to JA (recent
players).
- Of the recent players, 71.9% returned to play after surgery,
compared to 30.2% of remote players.
- The most common time window to return to play was four to six
months for each sport with 44.4% of pickleball players, 36.2% of
tennis players and 39.1% of other racket sport players.
- When compared to remote and never players, recent racket sports
players had the highest PROs across physical function, physical
health and mental health.
- For those who returned to play after JA, the majority reported
an increase or similar level of enjoyment in playing their desired
racket sport. The majority of patients reported being very
satisfied or satisfied with their JA in allowing them to return to
their desired sport, with 90% of tennis players, 77.2% of
pickleball players, and 86.9% of other racket sport players.
- Of the recent players, there was no difference in return to
play based on pre-operative self-reported skill levels with 72.5%
of beginners, 76.2% of intermediate, and 65.6% of advanced players
returning.
- The most common reasons for recent and remote players to avoid
returning to play were fear of injury in tennis players (29.7%) and
loss of interest in pickleball players (35.3%).
- Rates of reoperation were not significantly different between
patients who did and did not return to play.
- The study's limitations included being survey-based and
susceptible to biases, participants had to self-report skill
levels, which could lead to inaccuracies, and there was no
objective mechanism for tracking racket ability changes over
time.
2025 AAOS Annual Meeting Disclosure Statement
About the AAOS
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of
musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in
advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality,
most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and
allied health professionals at every career level to best treat
patients in their daily practices. AAOS is the source for
information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related
musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare
discussion on advancing quality.
Follow the AAOS on Facebook, X,
LinkedIn and Instagram.
i Akabas L. Americans More Active Despite Team
Sports' Decline: Data VIZ. Sportico.
https://www.sportico.com/business/sports/2023/most-popular-sports-participation-2022-1234710470/.
Published Feb. 22, 2023. Accessed
Feb. 12, 2025.
ii Loeser RF. The Role of Aging in the Development
of Osteoarthritis. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc.
2017;128:44-54.
iii Swanson EA, Schmalzried TP, Dorey FJ. Activity
recommendations after total hip and knee arthroplasty: a survey of
the American Association for Hip and Knee Surgeons. J Arthroplasty.
2009;24(6 Suppl):120-6.
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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
