Few Runners Return to Running after Total Joint Arthroplasty, While Others Initiate Running

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines self-reported running practices in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study of a multi-institutional database identified 4,462 primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total or partial knee arthroplasty (TKA/UKA) patients from June 2015 to June 2020. TJA patients completed an online survey capturing pre-TJA running experience and expectations, surgeon recommendations about return to running, postoperative characteristics, revision surgeries, and the Commitment to Exercise Scale and Brief Resilience Scale. Patient-reported follow-up reached 5 years. Logistic regression, the chi square test, and analysis of variance tests were used. Results: Five hundred forty-nine patients (12.2%) self-reported running preoperatively, and 65 patients (11.8%) returned to running after surgery. 67.2% were satisfied with their return to running. 40 patients (1.0%) who were not preoperative runners started running after TJA. Preoperative runners who returned to running had higher mean Brief Resilience Scale (3.9 ± 0.7) scores and the highest Commitment to Exercise Scale scores (46.5 ± 17.6, F[2,510] = 3.88, P = 0.02). Runners who returned to running had a 6.2% revision rate while those who did not run postoperatively had a 4.8% revision rate (P = 0.55). Surgeon recommendations included no return to running (29.5%), maintain low-impact activities (35.2%), return to preoperative levels (5.1%), and no recommendations (30.1%). Discussion: 12% of TJA preoperative runners returned to running, mostly within 1 year, and 67.2% were satisfied with their running ability.