Many patients ask me if they can resume playing tennis after a total knee replacement. The answer is YES! I particularly like the function of a rotating platform total knee replacement in my tennis and racquet sport players. I have many successful athletes and weekend warriors out on the courts. In general, it is probably better to play doubles, as there is less running around over-all, but singles is also allowable. Obviously no guarantees can be made that ALL patients with a knee replacement will be able to play, but a very high percentage will. Most tennis players have waited “too long” to get their knees fixed, because of fear of having to give up their favorite past-time after surgery. It is better to have it done at a convenient time, as it is likely to be inevitable, and harder to recover after the deformity is very severe.
You can ride your mountain bike, and swim, and play tennis after your total knee ( just like Kary!)
Many patients need both total knee replacement “done” as there is a high proportion of hereditary or genetic based osteoarthritis of the knee affecting both sides. I suspect I will need my own total knee replacement in the future, and I will do my research and find the best surgeon I can to do it! I plan on playing lots of tennis, golf, ski-ing, wakeboarding, and swimming as I get older. If you have “worn out joints”, you should fix them and get back to an active life style. Sitting on the sidelines is not healthy!
The rotating platform total knee is my favorite for active people.
