Key words: Anti-GravityTreadmill,KneeRehabilitation,KneeSurgery,Balance
Background:Anti-gravity treadmills have been used in orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation. However, there is a paucity of literature on its use in postoperative knee rehabilitation.
Purpose：The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an antigravity treadmill on balance in the early stages of postoperative knee rehabilitation.
Methods：Forty-nine patients undergoing knee surgery participated in this study. One week after surgery, each patient performed a timed single-leg stand (SLS) test on the floor of the operated knee. After the test, patients were divided into experimental or control groups based on pain levels. Patients in the experimental group received balance exercises on an anti-gravity treadmill, with the pressure adjusted to painless or minimal pain levels, once a day, at least 5 days a week. Patients in the control group also performed balancing exercises on the floor in the same manner. All patients underwent SLS testing again 2 weeks after surgery. Record and analyze the length of the SLS.
Results：One week after surgery, the SLS lengths in the control and experimental groups were 38.8 seconds and 19.9 seconds respectively. Two weeks after surgery, the patient’s condition improved to 50.5 seconds and 35.0 seconds respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups at 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery. However, there was no significant difference in improvement between the two groups from week 1 to week 2.
Summary overview：The use of an antigravity treadmill may have a positive impact on balance during the acute phase of postoperative knee recovery.
Article cited in：Corresponding Author: Rehab Plus Sports Therapy, 10115 E. Bell Rd., Suite B101, AZ 85260, Scottsdale, USA.
Artical link：TheEffectofAnti-GravityTreadmillonBalanceinAcutePhaseof Post-OperativeKneeRehabilitation
Anti-gravity treadmill is a device that unloads your body weight while standing on the treadmill. It has been used in the rehabilitation of neurological and orthopedic patients and has been shown to improve a person’s function, walking, balance and strength.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mitigating effect of an antigravity treadmill on early recovery of balance after knee surgery. We hypothesized that use of an microgravity treadmill would have a positive impact on the balance of patients in the early stages of postoperative knee rehabilitation and that they would be able to significantly improve their single-leg stance length.
Detailed methods：This study recruited 49 patients who underwent knee surgery at a knee and sports clinic. All agreed to participate and provided signed informed consent prior to data collection. Each patient performed a timed single-leg stand (SLS) test on the floor 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively. After the first balance test, patients were divided into experimental or control groups based on their comfort level. Those who experienced a “significant increase” in pain levels during the first balance test were placed in the experimental group. Others who felt “comfortable” with no or slight pain or no or slightly increased pain were placed in the control group. The subjects in the experimental group performed balance exercise training on the anti-gravity treadmill at least 5 days a week between the first and second balance tests. At the beginning of each balance exercise, the anti-gravity treadmill was Pressure is adjusted to no pain or minimal pain level. Patients in the control group performed balance exercises on the floor at least 5 days a week between balance tests. During each balance exercise, subjects were asked to stand on one surgical leg with the knee slightly bent to stay on the foot for 30 seconds. This was repeated 3 times, resting for 30 seconds between trials. The subjects in the experimental group performed microgravity balance exercises at least 5 days a week between the first and second balance tests. At the beginning of each balance exercise, the pressure of the anti-gravity treadmill was adjusted to zero. pain or minimal pain level. Patients in the control group performed balance exercises on the floor at least 5 days a week between balance tests. During each balance exercise, subjects were asked to stand on one surgical leg with the knee slightly bent to stay on the foot for 30 seconds. This was repeated 3 times, resting for 30 seconds between trials.
Discussion of results：In this study, the experimental group using the antigravity treadmill improved SLS from week 1 to 2, but the improvement was not statistically significant compared with the control group. A similar trend was seen among TKA patients. Both the control group and the experimental group improved SLS, and there was no significant difference between the groups. As hypothesized, patients treated with the antigravity treadmill had significant improvements in SLS values, but their improvements were not significantly different from those in the control group.
The use of anti-gravity treadmills during weight bearing has been shown to have a positive effect on reducing pain and reducing ground reaction forces. Anti-gravity treadmills can also reduce the force placed on the lower limbs, which allows patients after lower limb surgery to use early weight-bearing with less stress and a safer impact on the surgical site, especially allowing for significant early recovery after knee surgery. Effect. Additionally, those patients who are limited by partial weight-bearing can perform such activities on an anti-gravity treadmill without the use of crutches or crutches, allowing them to return to functional performance more quickly.