Returning to Yoga Practice and Teaching After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Patients who practice yoga are motivated to return to practice after total hip arthroplasty (THA). With case reports of dislocations during yoga, the safety of such a return is unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine the timing and feasibility of a return in a subset of highly experienced and motivated patients. Between 2010 and 2019, a total of 19 THA’s performed in 14 patients who self-identified as yoga instructors were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who practiced yoga but were not teachers were excluded from this series. The primary outcome measures were the ability to return to yoga, to resume teaching, and fluency with 14 classic poses. Secondary outcomes measured were patient-reported Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS, Jr.), complications, and radiographic position of the implants. After surgery, all patients returned to practicing and teaching yoga, and the mean time to each was 2 months. All patients were able to perform all 14 classic poses. At a mean follow-up of 5 years (SD ± 4), there were no complications, and the mean HOOS, JR score was 92 points (SD ± 15). This study demonstrates that a return to yoga in an experienced population is not only possible but also safe after a direct anterior THA. Limitations in performing the poses should be understood, and appropriate modifications should be incorporated when needed.