THE EFFECT OF ANTIGRAVITY TREADMILL TRAINING IN POSTOPERATIVE TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT REHABILITATION- A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is a widely performed surgical intervention aimed at relieving pain and restoring mobility in patients with advanced knee pathologies. Postoperative rehabilitation plays a crucial role in achieving optimal outcomes. Among emerging technologies, the antigravity treadmill offers body-weight-supported ambulation, potentially enhancing early mobility and reducing joint loading during gait retraining.

Objective: This narrative review explores and synthesizes current literature on the effects of antigravity treadmill training in individuals undergoing rehabilitation after TKR, with a focus on functional outcomes, gait mechanics, and clinical applicability.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted by searching databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library for articles published between 2013 and 2025. Keywords such as “Antigravity Treadmill,” “Total Knee Replacement,” “Rehabilitation,” and “Gait Training” were used. Inclusion criteria were: studies involving human subjects post-TKR or similar knee surgeries (e.g., unicompartmental knee arthroplasty), those assessing the impact of antigravity treadmill use on functional recovery, and articles published in English. Conference abstracts without full text and non-English articles were excluded.

Results: Available evidence from pilot studies, case series, and reviews indicates that antigravity treadmill training is safe, feasible, and beneficial in improving early functional mobility post-TKR. Studies reported improvements in KOOS (knee injury osteoarthritis outcome scores), gait parameters, and patient confidence in ambulation. However, methodological limitations, small sample sizes, and heterogeneous protocols restrict the generalization of findings.

Conclusion: Antigravity treadmill training appears to be a promising adjunct to conventional physiotherapy for postoperative TKR rehabilitation. While early outcomes are favourable, further high-quality studies are needed to establish standardized protocols, assess long-term benefits, and evaluate cost-effectiveness for routine clinical use.