Tennis after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

In this study, patients who played tennis after undergoing a total knee arthroplasty were analyzed in terms of their functional abilities and degree of satisfaction. The patients were recruited by means of a questionnaire that was sent to players from lists supplied by the United States Tennis Association. The study group consisted of 28 men and 5 women (46 total knee replacements) with a mean age of 64 years. Only 21% (7 of 33) of the patients’ surgeons approved of their patients undertaking tennis activity, with 45% (15 of 33) recommending only doubles tennis. At both 1 year and a mean of 7 years after arthroplasty, players were playing both singles and doubles tennis approximately three times per week (range, one to seven). All tennis players polled were satisfied with their knee arthroplasties and their ability to resume playing tennis. Because the study patients played at a high level, future studies are needed to determine the effect of tennis on the general population, which does not play at such a uniformly high level. The long-term (15 to 20 years) effect of tennis activity on the clinical and radiologic outcome of total knee arthroplasty also needs to be determined.