The effect of antigravity treadmill training on gait, balance, mobility and kinesiophobia in individuals who had total knee arthroplasty

After total knee arthroplasty (TKA), individuals experience pain, decreased range of motion, and loss of strength, leading to asymmetries in walking. This study was planned to compare the effects of anti-gravity (AG) treadmill walking training and conventional physiotherapy on walking, balance, mobility, and kinesiophobia after TKA. Our study is a prospective controlled study. 26 volunteers, aged between 49- 86 (67.7±9.4 years), who had undergone TKA and were in the 3rd postoperative week, participated in the study. The individuals included in the study were randomly distributed to the AG group (AGG) and the control group (CG). The participants in both groups were assessed for pain intensity with visual analog scale (VAS), lower extremity position sense with CPM (eyes open-closed), balance with Berg Balance Scale, gait analysis on C-Mill treadmill, SKYT, and mobility with 10 m walking tests before and after treatment. Kinesiophobia was assessed with Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale. Conservative treatment was applied to both groups 3 days a week for 6 weeks, and walking training on AG treadmill was also applied to the research group. Individuals in AGG showed significant improvements in pain, SKYT, 10m walking test, joint range of motion, joint position sense, walking speed, cadence, balance and kinesiophobia scores after rehabilitation (p<0.05). KG showed significant improvements in pain, SKYT, 10m walking test, joint range of motion, step length, walking speed and balance scores (p<0.05). When we compared the two groups, AGG had a statistically significant superiority over KG in pain, SKYT, 10m walking test, joint range of motion, step lengths of the healthy side, cadence, walking speed, balance and kinesiophobia scores (p<0.05). As a result, it was found that walking training in a reduced gravity environment improved walking components without causing pain and contributed to the development of balance and the reduction of kinesiophobia. Key words: Antigravity rehabilitation, Balance, Pain, Total knee arthroplasty, Walking