The purposes of this study were: first, to assess the satisfaction with sports activities three months after THA; and second, to examine the factors associated with this satisfaction.
This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria comprised patients who underwent their first unilateral or bilateral THA and were attending outpatient rehabilitation. Exclusion criteria included those with a history of revision surgery, surgeries on other joints, or those with severe illnesses that could hinder participation in sports activities. The evaluation items included demographic data, preoperative Tegner Activity Score, participation in sports activities at three months after THA, a satisfaction questionnaire regarding sports activities, maximum isometric hip abductor strength, Chair Stand 30-second test, Timed Up and Go test, Four Square Step test, and the anterior approach of the Star Excursion Balance Test. Satisfaction during sports activities was measured using a Likert scale ranging from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicated greater satisfaction. Sports activity participation was defined as participation in sports activities excluding walking on even ground.
Statistical analysis, including means, standard deviation, were used to describe the basic characteristics of sports activity participants. Additionally, a simple linear regression analysis was conducted with the satisfaction during sports activities at three months postoperatively as the dependent variable and each evaluation item as the independent variables. Finally, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed, using the variables that were significant in the simple linear regression analysis as independent variables, with age, gender, BMI, and preoperative Tegner Activity Score included as covariates.
The study included 42 participants (mean age: 64.4±8.8 years, 33 women, mean BMI: 23.8±3.9 kg/m²). At three months postoperatively, 16 participants had resumed sports activities. The mean satisfaction score during sports activities was 7.1±2.1. The primary sports activities reported were cycling, golf, volleyball, and ballet. The factor associated with satisfaction during sports activities was the hip abductor strength on the operated side (regression coefficient = 16.32, p = 0.03).
The satisfaction score during sports activities was 7.1, indicating a high level of satisfaction. The hip abductor strength was identified as a significant factor influencing satisfaction during sports activities three months after THA. This suggests the importance of evaluating and strengthening the hip abductor strength in postoperative rehabilitation. However, due to the small sample size in this study, further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary.
The findings of this study could contribute to developing rehabilitation protocols aimed at early participation in sports activities for patients after THA.
sports activities
satisfaction during sports activities
