❙ Christopher A. Dalus, Wolfgang Domej ❙
Bergsport nach Gelenkersatz Mountain sports after joint replacement
SUMMARY With increasing numbers of modern hip and knee prostheses being implanted, even in younger persons, patients expect excellent functionality and restoration of their former physical activity level. In spite of the obvious health benefits of sports, many patients lack the confidence to take up an alpine sport again. Returning to sports after joint replacement is an important issue, particularly for those who practice disciplines as mountaineering, climbing or skiing, which often are an important part of their personal identity. Many questions may arise in the context of knee and hip replacement such as patterns of strain occurring during mountaineering that are to be avoided or completely excluded. Orthopedic risks related to alpine sports shall be evaluated and further, which precautions should be taken to decrease orthopedic risks, and whether there are any recommendations on how to increase the feeling of safety and self-confidence that will make it easier to return to these sports. Today, hip-resurfacing and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) show satisfactory results. Good preoperative physical fitness and postoperative rehabilitation will contribute to the success of joint replacement surgery and good functionality. It is essential to reestablish coordination and range of motion immediately after joint replacement surgery. Strength and endurance should be restored within 3 – 6 months. The postoperative training program should be individually tailored and adapted to the particular sports discipline, taking the patient’s former level of activity and proficiency into account. When stability, security of movement and good technique have been achieved postoperatively, a patient may practice many of the alpine disciplines, but it is not recommended to start with a new sport immediately after joint replacement surgery. 115
