Anti-gravity treadmill can promote aerobic exercise for lower limb osteoarthritis patients.
Toshihiro Kawae, Yukio Mikami, Kouki Fukuhara and 2 others
PMID 28878480WHAT IT FOUND
Anti-gravity treadmill walking did not change oxygen uptake compared with level-ground walking, but 20 patients with lower limb osteoarthritis walked faster with less pain during a short test.
Key findings
01Patients walked faster during anti-gravity treadmill walking than during level-ground walking.
02Pain was lower after anti-gravity treadmill walking than after level-ground walking, and pain increased less during the anti-gravity treadmill walk.
03Oxygen uptake did not differ between anti-gravity treadmill walking and level-ground walking, while calorie consumption was higher during anti-gravity treadmill walking.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 20 patients, and the affected joints varied: 14 hips, 5 knees, and 1 ankle. All patients had advanced deformity and were scheduled for surgery, so results may not apply to milder or non-surgical lower limb osteoarthritis. The two walks were done on the same day in a fixed order, first level-ground walking then anti-gravity treadmill walking, so order effects cannot be ruled out. The pain threshold used to set treadmill load was not clearly defined, and the study could not evaluate effects by disease type, disease degree, or pain intensity. The study measured only a single 8-minute walk and did not evaluate long-term aerobic fitness, daily life function, exercise motivation, or self-efficacy.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that anti-gravity treadmill walking is proven to improve long-term aerobic fitness or function. The study compared one 8-minute walk with level-ground walking in 20 patients scheduled for surgery, and oxygen uptake did not differ between conditions.