Research Summary

Majority of Racket Sport Athletes Successfully Return to Play After Joint Arthroplasty Without Increased Reoperation Risk

Kate Young

Key Highlights:

  • 71.9% of patients who played racket sports in the 2 years prior to joint arthroplasty (JA) returned to play postoperatively.
  • Most returning players resumed their previous level of play by 6 months after surgery.
  • Return to sport was associated with higher physical function scores.
  • No significant difference in reoperation rates was found between those who returned to play and those who did not.

Patients with recent racket sport participation prior to joint arthroplasty (JA) were more likely to return to play following surgery, with 71.9% of recent players resuming activity, compared with only 30.2% of patients who had not played a racket sport in the 2 years before surgery. Most returning players regained their previous level of skill, duration, and frequency of play, typically within 6 months postoperatively. These individuals also reported higher physical function outcomes, and returning to sport did not correlate with an increased risk of reoperation.

As participation in racket sports—particularly pickleball—continues to rise among older adults, a demographic that also frequently undergoes joint arthroplasty, understanding the impact of surgery on athletic engagement is increasingly relevant. Yet, data on post-arthroplasty sports outcomes remain limited, especially concerning performance, safety, and the ability to resume active lifestyles.

data from study

To address this gap, researchers conducted a survey-based study involving 7200 patients who had undergone primary JA over the previous decade at a single academic center. From the 1284 respondents (average follow-up: 3.6 years), data were collected on pre- and post-surgery racket sport participation, patient-reported outcomes, reoperations, and demographics. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, t-tests, and ANOVA, were employed to evaluate group differences.

Of the respondents, 13.0% had played racket sports within 2 years of their surgery (recent players), and 25.3% had played more than 2 years prior (remote players). Among recent players, 71.9% successfully returned to racket sports, while only 30.2% of remote players resumed play. Those who returned generally did so at similar pre-surgical skill levels and frequencies, with most returning by 6 months. Additionally, higher physical function scores were observed in the cohort that returned to play, and no significant differences in reoperation rates were found between active and inactive individuals post-surgery.

“The majority of recent racket sports players were able to return to play after JA at their same skill level by 6 months postoperatively with higher physical function outcome scores and without an increase in reoperation rate,” the study authors concluded. “Future studies are needed to determine the long-term consequences of racket sports participation after JA.”

Reference:
Taylor AJ, Braathen DL, Blackburn BE, et al. Can I pickle doc? Return to pickleball and other racket sports after total joint arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. Published online January 22, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2025.01.027