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A Sixty and Me report says many people return to activities such as walking, swimming, cycling and golf after hip or knee replacement, with timing depending on recovery and clinical clearance. Advice on high-impact sports remains unsettled, and patients should discuss their plans with their surgeon or physical therapist.
A Sixty and Me report says many people can return to activities they had difficulty doing before a hip or knee replacement, but the timing depends on recovery and advice from their care team. It describes early walking and rehabilitation, outlines activities commonly resumed after recovery, and says the effects of high-impact sports on implants remain uncertain.
In the report, most patients are described as standing and taking assisted steps on the day of surgery, initially using a walker or cane. The aid helps reduce fall risk while strength and balance return. A surgeon or physical therapist should advise when it can be put aside. Regular walking, extended gradually, is presented as a central part of early recovery because it helps restore movement and strengthen surrounding muscles.
For knee replacement, the report says much of the ability to bend and straighten the knee returns within about six weeks. It recommends doing prescribed exercises daily during that period, even if the knee feels stiff. Swimming can generally resume after the surgeon confirms the incision has healed, while many other activities may return at around three months with the surgeon’s clearance. Recovery can vary from week to week.
After recovery, the activities cited as common options include walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, golf and doubles tennis. Kneeling is not thought to damage a knee replacement, according to the report, but may initially be uncomfortable; starting on a cushion or folded towel can make it more manageable. Running, singles tennis and pickleball are higher-impact examples for which the report says surgeons do not have a definitive answer on whether participation shortens implant life.
Activity Depends on Recovery
Returning to movement can be a central reason people choose joint replacement, particularly when pain has limited walking, travel or recreation. The report offers readers a broad picture of what activity may look like after surgery, while distinguishing between lower-impact options and sports that place harder or repeated forces on the joint.
Its timelines are general, not individual guarantees. A person’s progress, surgical instructions and rehabilitation plan determine when an activity is appropriate. The difference matters: increasing activity too quickly may bring new pain or swelling, while maintaining suitable movement and strengthening exercises can support ongoing recovery. The report advises patients to discuss specific goals with their surgeon or physical therapist.
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From Early Steps to Sport
The report frames recovery as a gradual process rather than a single return-to-activity date. Early walking begins with assistance, followed by progressive increases in duration or distance. For a knee replacement, prescribed exercises are emphasized during the first six weeks; the report places swimming after the incision is confirmed healed and many other activities around three months, subject to medical clearance.
Activity guidance continues after formal physical therapy ends. The report says muscles around a replaced hip or knee may continue gaining strength for a year or more, and recommends continuing the exercises learned in therapy. It also notes that the opposite joint and lower back may carry extra load before surgery and during recovery, so new aches in those areas should be raised with a surgeon or physical therapist.
““For many, the answer is yes.””
— Sixty and Me report
High-Impact Sports Still Debated
The source does not provide research findings or numerical estimates for how particular sports affect implant longevity. It says the question of whether high-impact activity shortens an implant’s life has no definitive answer, and that surgeons may differ in their guidance. Patients considering running, singles tennis or pickleball should ask their surgeon about the specific activity and their own recovery.
The timelines in the report are general descriptions, not a substitute for individual clinical advice. It does not specify how age, overall health, surgical technique or complications may change a recovery plan. The source also does not give a publication date, so the timing of the report itself is unclear.
Build Activity Gradually
The report advises increasing activity in small steps, adding time or distance gradually and noticing how the joint feels the next day. New pain or swelling the following morning is a signal to ease back for a while before increasing activity again. It recommends being active on most days, while recognizing that short sessions can count toward a sustainable routine.
Patients should continue strengthening exercises after formal therapy ends and consult their care team before returning to sports, particularly higher-impact ones. New aches in the opposite hip or knee, or in the lower back, should also be mentioned to a surgeon or physical therapist. The report gives no new study or policy milestone; its practical next step is individualized guidance as recovery progresses.
Key Questions
How soon can someone walk after hip or knee replacement?
The report says most patients stand and take assisted steps on the day of surgery, using a walker or cane at first. The care team should advise when walking without an aid is appropriate.
When can swimming resume?
The report says swimming can generally begin once the surgeon confirms the incision has fully healed. Patients should follow their own surgeon’s instructions.
Which activities may be possible after recovery?
The report lists walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, golf and doubles tennis as activities many people return to. Suitability and timing depend on individual recovery and medical guidance.
Can someone return to running or pickleball?
The report says advice on higher-impact sports such as running and pickleball remains debated, with no definitive answer on whether they shorten implant life. It recommends discussing the specific sport with a surgeon.
What should someone do if activity causes pain or swelling?
The report advises easing back if new pain or swelling appears the next morning, then increasing activity again more gradually. New or persistent symptoms should be discussed with a surgeon or physical therapist.
Source: sixtyandme.com
