TL;DR
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A Sixty and Me report describes how people can gradually return to activity after hip or knee replacement, with early walking and prescribed exercises forming part of recovery. It says activity choices and timing should be guided by the surgeon or physical therapist, while the effect of higher-impact sports on implant lifespan remains uncertain.
A Sixty and Me report on staying active after hip or knee replacement says many people return to activities such as walking, swimming and cycling, but recovery should be gradual and guided by a surgeon or physical therapist. The report describes early walking and prescribed exercises as parts of rehabilitation, while noting that the safety of returning to higher-impact sports is not settled.
According to the report, many patients stand and take their first steps on the day of surgery with assistance. A walker or cane may be used at first to help reduce fall risk while strength and balance return. The surgeon or physical therapist advises when a walking aid is no longer needed. Regular walks can be extended gradually, alongside exercises prescribed for recovery.
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, including when the knee feels stiff. Swimming can generally begin after the surgeon confirms that the incision has healed; many other activities may resume around three months, subject to the surgeon’s clearance. Recovery does not necessarily progress at the same pace every week.
After recovery, activities commonly described as lower impact include walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, golf and doubles tennis. Kneeling after knee replacement is not thought to damage the implant, the report says, although it can be uncomfortable at first; trying a soft surface may help. Running, singles tennis and pickleball are higher impact, and the report advises discussing any planned return to them with the surgeon.
A Gradual Return to Daily Activity
For people considering or recovering from joint replacement, the ability to resume valued activities is part of the decision and rehabilitation process. The report offers a practical distinction between gradual, lower-impact activity and sports involving greater impact, without presenting one schedule as suitable for everyone.
Continuing strength work after formal physical therapy ends may also matter. The report says muscles around a replaced hip or knee can keep gaining strength for a year or more. It advises increasing distance or time in small steps and paying attention to symptoms the next day: new swelling or pain is a reason to ease back before building activity again. This is general information, not a substitute for an individual recovery plan.
The report also points out that the opposite hip or knee and the lower back may carry more load before surgery and during recovery. New aches in those areas should be raised with a surgeon or physical therapist. That reminder broadens recovery beyond the replaced joint itself and encourages readers to discuss changes rather than assuming every ache is expected.
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Recovery Milestones After Surgery
The source frames activity after replacement around a common patient concern: whether surgery will allow a return to favorite pursuits that joint pain had made difficult. Its guidance covers the first weeks and months as well as longer-term activity, rather than treating the operation as an immediate return to normal.
The milestones in the report are approximate. Assisted steps may begin on the day of surgery, knee movement often improves during the first six weeks, and some activities may return around three months if the surgeon agrees. The report points readers to separate week-by-week guides for hip and knee recovery, but it does not provide patient-specific instructions or data comparing outcomes by sport.
““For many, the answer is yes.””
— Sixty and Me report
Impact Sports Remain Unsettled
The report says surgeons continue to debate higher-impact activity and that there is no definitive answer on whether it shortens an implant’s lifespan. It does not cite a particular study, quantify implant wear, or distinguish between types of implants or individual patient circumstances. Readers should treat its activity suggestions as general guidance and ask their own surgical team about specific sports.
The source also does not give a single recovery timetable for all patients. Timing for stopping a walker or cane, swimming, and returning to other activities depends on clinical clearance and recovery progress. The report does not specify how advice may differ by surgical technique, complications or a person’s health history.
Follow the Care Team’s Guidance
The next step for someone recovering is to follow the exercises and activity plan provided by the surgeon and physical therapist, including guidance on walking aids and when the incision is ready for swimming. People hoping to return to a higher-impact sport should ask about that activity specifically before resuming it.
Over time, the report recommends keeping up strengthening exercises, aiming for activity on most days and increasing duration or distance in small increments. If swelling or pain appears the following morning, it advises easing back for a while; new pain in the opposite joint or back should be discussed with a clinician. The source gives no further scheduled update or new study, so individual medical guidance remains the practical next step.
Key Questions
When can someone walk after hip or knee replacement?
The report says many patients stand and take their first steps on the day of surgery with assistance. A walker or cane may be used at first, and the surgeon or physical therapist advises when it can be stopped.
When can swimming resume?
The report says swimming can generally begin after the surgeon confirms the incision has fully healed. The timing should be confirmed with the person’s care team.
Which activities are described as lower impact?
The report lists walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, golf and doubles tennis as activities many people return to after recovery. Individual recommendations may vary.
Is kneeling harmful after knee replacement?
The report says kneeling is not thought to damage a knee replacement, though it can be uncomfortable at first. It suggests trying a cushion or folded towel and discussing concerns with a clinician.
Can someone return to running or pickleball?
The report describes running and pickleball as higher-impact activities and says their effect on implant lifespan is not definitively established. It advises discussing the specific sport with the surgeon before returning to it.
Source: sixtyandme.com
