NCT07040878

Antigravity Treadmill After Joint Arthroplasty

Antigravity Treadmill Rehabilitation After Lower Limb Arthroplasty in Older Adults

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of antigravity treadmill training and body weight-supported treadmill training in the rehabilitation of elderly patients (60-75 years) following hip or knee arthroplasty.

Detailed description

This randomized controlled trial will recruit 60 patients aged 60-75 years, within 3 months after total hip or knee arthroplasty, admitted to the Rehabilitation Unit of St. Jadwiga Hospital in Trzebnica. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (i) body weight-supported treadmill group (n=20), (ii) antigravity treadmill group (n=20), or (iii) control group receiving conventional gait training (n=20). All patients will receive comprehensive daily therapy for 6 weeks, including kinesitherapy, ergotherapy, and physical therapy procedures under professional supervision.

Conditions

• Arthropathy
• Osteoarthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Antigravity Treadmill Training	Antigravity treadmill training uses air pressure to reduce effective body weight during walking, minimizing joint load while preserving gait mechanics. The 6-week intervention includes five sessions per week within a 120-minute daily kinesitherapy program. Treadmill speed is individualized at baseline and increased by 0.5 km/h every two weeks. Unloading is progressively reduced: 60% support in weeks 1-2, 40% in weeks 3-4, and 20% in weeks 5-6, allowing gradual adaptation to full weight-bearing.
BEHAVIORAL	Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training	Body weight-supported treadmill training uses a harness-based system to partially offload body weight, promoting safe ambulation and gait normalization in early postoperative rehabilitation. The 6-week intervention includes five sessions per week within the 120-minute daily kinesitherapy program. Treadmill speed is individualized at baseline and increased by 0.5 km/h every two weeks, depending on tolerance. The unloading level remains constant and is individually adjusted to ensure safety.
BEHAVIORAL	Conventional rehabilitation	Conventional rehabilitation follows standard postoperative protocols after hip or knee arthroplasty. The 6-week program includes five weekly sessions. Gait training is conducted in hospital corridors under physiotherapist supervision, using assistive devices as needed (crutches, walkers). Daily therapy includes 120 minutes of kinesiotherapy (general exercises and gait training), 30 minutes of ergotherapy to improve functional independence, and three individualized physical therapy procedures (laser therapy, magnetic therapy, or electrotherapy) tailored to patient needs.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-15
• Primary completion: 2025-12-31
• Completion: 2026-06-30
• First posted: 2025-06-27
• Last updated: 2025-06-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Poland