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Twenty-one sports activities are recommended by the European Knee Associates (EKA) six months after total knee arthroplasty

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To elaborate recommendations for sports participation following TKA among the members of the European Knee Associates (EKA).

Methods

A prospective online survey was conducted among the members of the European Knee Associates (EKA). The European Knee Associates (EKA) are a section of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA). The survey investigated recommendations for 47 sports disciplines. Possible answers were: allowed, allowed if experienced, not allowed, no opinion. The survey was conducted separately for 4 specific time frames: within 6 weeks after TKA; 6–12 weeks after TKA; 3–6 months after TKA; and more than 6 months after TKA. Consensus among the respondents was then analyzed.

Results

EKA members (N = 120) participated in the survey. A high level of consensus was reached for a recommendation to allow 5 different sports in the first 6 weeks after TKA, 7 sports 6–12 weeks after surgery, 14 sports 3–6 months after TKA, and 21 out of 47 activities 6 months after surgery. In the first 6 weeks after TKA walking, stair climbing, swimming, aqua fitness, and static cycling were recommended. Six to twelve weeks after TKA, cycling on level ground and yoga were recommended in addition to the aforementioned activities. Further sports activities recommended beyond 12 weeks after TKA were: tennis doubles, golf, fitness/weight lifting, aerobics, hiking, Nordic walking and sailing. The sport for which the recommendation was “not allowed” following TKA was squash.

Conclusion

The number of sports recommended by EKA surgeons increases stepwise over the postoperative time frames. The findings are regarded as clinically relevant as they may serve as a basis for answering patient questions on timing and giving recommendations for the resumption of sports activities following standard primary TKA and should be individualized by surgeons for their patients’ expectations and goals.

Level of evidence

V.

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Funding

No funding was available for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Martin Thaler, Ismail Khosravi & Michael Liebensteiner

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Experimental Orthopaedics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Salurnerstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    David Putzer

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Baselland, (Bruderholz, Liestal, Laufen), University of Basel, 4101, Bruderholz, Switzerland

    Michael T. Hirschmann

  4. CortoClinics, Schijndel, The Netherlands

    Nanne Kort

  5. Ortoklinik and Cankaya Orthopaedics, Ankara, Turkey

    Reha N. Tandogan

Authors
  1. Martin Thaler
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  2. Ismail Khosravi
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  3. David Putzer
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  4. Michael T. Hirschmann
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  5. Nanne Kort
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  6. Reha N. Tandogan
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  7. Michael Liebensteiner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ismail Khosravi.

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The subject was not submitted for ethical committee approval due to the fact that neither clinical data nor patients were involved.

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Thaler, M., Khosravi, I., Putzer, D. et al. Twenty-one sports activities are recommended by the European Knee Associates (EKA) six months after total knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 29, 694–709 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06400-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06400-y

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