Patient-reported activity level after total knee arthroplasty

We identified 1630 unrevised patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 1995 and 2000. Patients were surveyed regarding clinical outcome and activity level, and were queried about actual participation in 40 different athletic activities. One thousand two hundred six patients (74%) responded at a mean of 5.7 years after arthroplasty. Average age at TKA was 67 years. Average University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity level rating was 7.1. Satisfaction with activity level was 91%. Six hundred forty-three patients (53%) responded that their activities were limited by other joints. Patients older than 70 years at arthroplasty had lower UCLA ratings and Knee Society function scores (P < .0001) but higher self-assessment of activity vs peers (P = .001) than those younger than 70 years. Men had higher UCLA scores (P< .0001), Knee Society function scores (P < .0001), and higher self-assessment of activity level vs peers (P < .0001) than women. One hundred eighty-seven patients (16%) reported participating in heavy manual labor or sports deemed "not recommended" in a published Knee Society survey.