Abstract Background Osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition in older adults that leads to reduced physical function in many patients and ultimately requires hip or knee replacement. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of hip and knee arthroplasty on the physical performance of orthogeriatric patients with osteoarthritis. Methods In this prospective study, we used data from 135 participants of the ongoing Special Orthopaedic Geriatrics (SOG) trial, funded by the German Federal Joint Committee (GBA). Physical function, measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), was assessed preoperatively, 3 and 7 days postoperatively, 4–6 weeks and 3 months after hip and knee arthroplasty. For the statistical analysis, the Friedman test and post-hoc tests were used. Results Of the 135 participants with a mean age of 78.5 ± 4.6 years, 81 underwent total hip arthroplasty and 54 total knee arthroplasty. In the total population, SPPB improved by a median of 2 points 3 months after joint replacement (p
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