Exercise and Sport after the Operation

Basically, sport can be recommended for a wide variety of reasons – it keeps you fit, strengthens your muscles, is good for your heart and circulation, and it’s also fun and helps you meet people. Be prudent when you start out with your own sports programme and take it in small doses. Keep taking breaks and increase your exertions only slowly. Stop at the first sign of pain. Strengthening your muscles in the area of the joint you were operated on is a key goal. These muscles make for joint stability and resilience – which is especially important for joint replacements.

Clinical studies show that there is no high incidence of implant loosening with endurance types of sport involving at least some stress on joints. Types of sport involving non-physiological peak stress (jumping, ball games) are more likely to lead to loosening and premature failure of the artificial joint – as is indeed a complete lack of exercise!

Suitable types of sport are those which involve a constant rhythm and minimum pressure on the joint:

• Rambling, running, (Nordic) Walking
• Cross-country skiing
• Biking
• Swimming
• Dancing

Particularly suitable types of sport are:

• Golf
• Bowling
• Sailing
• Table tennis

Sports involving high impact loads, extreme twisting movements and sudden changes of directions should be avoided:

• Alpine skiing
• Football, handball, volleyball, basketball
• Riding
• Tennis, squash, badminton