Nonpharmacological Interventions Improve Postoperative Sleep in Arthroplasty Patients

Background: Sleep disturbances are common after total joint arthroplasty and can impair recovery, increase complications, and reduce patient satisfaction. Nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) may offer safer alternatives to medications, but their effectiveness in improving postoperative sleep remains unclear. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the impact of NPIs on sleep outcomes following hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in November 2024 across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for studies investigating NPIs related to sleep outcomes after hip or knee arthroplasty. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently using the National Institutes of Health tools. A meta-analysis was conducted on studies reporting Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, and the mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed by the Cochran Q statistic and the I 2 test. Results: Ten studies (n = 1,545; mean age 65.69 years, 54.43% female) were included. NPIs were categorized into nursing-based interventions, environmental controls, relaxation techniques, neuromodulation, and movement restriction. The pooled analysis of 6 studies (n = 760) showed that NPIs significantly improved sleep quality compared with controls (MD = −2.61; 95% CI −3.27 to −1.95; p < 0.00001; I 2 = 86%). Subgroup analysis revealed the greatest benefit from nursing-based interventions (MD = −3.06; 95% CI −3.39 to −2.73; I 2 = 30%), while environmental interventions showed a smaller but significant effect (MD = −1.58; 95% CI −2.75 to −0.40; I 2 = 79%). Functional, psychological, and quality-of-life outcomes showed variable results across studies. Conclusion: NPIs, particularly nursing-based interventions and environmental controls, appear effective in improving postoperative sleep after joint arthroplasty. However, heterogeneity and limited high-quality evidence warrant further randomized trials with standardized protocols and objective sleep measures. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.