Postoperative Rehabilitation After Knee Arthroplasty: Anti-Gravity Treadmill

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to clarify the effectiveness and the usefulness of the anti-gravity treadmill in postoperative rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty. The investigators will compare anti-gravity treadmill rehabilitation and the traditional postoperative rehabilitation with instructions. The investigators will assume that anti-gravity treadmill exercise after hospitalization will lead to the faster rehabilitation, better walking quality and balance management compared to traditional rehabilitation methods with instructions, where patient themselves do the exercises at home. Additionally, the investigators will assume that quality of life and physical activity will be more increased in the anti-gravity group than in the traditional rehabilitation.

Detailed Description
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The aim of this study is to clarify the effectiveness and the usefulness of the anti-gravity treadmill in postoperative rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty. This issue is especially relevant because the number of knee arthroplasty patients is increasing. The rehabilitation of knee arthroplasty patients has also appeared to be more challenging than in the case of hip arthroplasty. The investigators will compare anti-gravity treadmill rehabilitation and the traditional postoperative rehabilitation with instructions. The investigators will recruit the patients either in the anti-gravity group (n=27) or in the traditional rehabilitation (n=27) (randomized study design). The investigators will assume that anti-gravity treadmill exercise after hospitalization will lead to the faster rehabilitation, better walking quality and balance management compared to the traditional rehabilitation.

Official Title
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Postoperative Rehabilitation After Knee Arthroplasty, With or Without Anti-Gravity Treadmill

Conditions
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Rehabilitation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Rehabilitation with or without Anti-Gravity Treadmill


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: primary knee arthroplasty patients with grade III-V changes Exclusion Criteria: earlier osteotomy to the operated knee rheumatoid arthritis
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Anti-gravity treadmill rehabilitation and traditional rehabilitation
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Anti-Gravity Treadmill rehabilitation<br>Patients in the intervention group are participating to the Alter G exercises (n=27). The groups are randomized, so after patients have signed consent, an envelop will be opened and there can be seen in which groups patients will participate. | Other: Rehabilitation with or without Anti-Gravity Treadmill<br>* The study will include patients with grade III-IV primary knee osteoarthritis. The investigators will take 27 patients to the both groups. The investigators will look after more specifically the anti-gravity treadmill rehabilitation and traditional rehabilitation after arthroplasty. Follow-up is one year. Functional tests will be made and questionnaires will be given to the patients before operation and after operation. After 6 to 8 weeks, 4 months and 12 months of operation questionnaires will be fil up again. After six month the investigators will send a questionnaire and there will be asked possible rehabilitation sessions, use of drugs and possible complications after knee arthroplasty.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Traditional rehabilitation<br>Traditional exercises with instructions are given to the patients (n=27) (as a control group). | Other: Rehabilitation with or without Anti-Gravity Treadmill<br>* The study will include patients with grade III-IV primary knee osteoarthritis. The investigators will take 27 patients to the both groups. The investigators will look after more specifically the anti-gravity treadmill rehabilitation and traditional rehabilitation after arthroplasty. Follow-up is one year. Functional tests will be made and questionnaires will be given to the patients before operation and after operation. After 6 to 8 weeks, 4 months and 12 months of operation questionnaires will be fil up again. After six month the investigators will send a questionnaire and there will be asked possible rehabilitation sessions, use of drugs and possible complications after knee arthroplasty.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walking ability | 6 minutes walking test will be used | 12 months after operation | 
| Health-related quality of life | The RAND Health-Related Quality of Life Inventory, RAND 36-Item, will be used, RAND-36 includes: Physical functioning,10 questions; Role functioning/physical, 4 questions; Role functioning/emotional, 3 questions; Energy/fatique, 4 questions, Emotional well-being, 5 questions; Social functioning, 2 questions; Pain, 2 questions; General health, 5 questions; Health change, 1 question. All: 36 questions. Scale: 0 - 100 | 12 months | 
| Perceived pain | Visual analogue scale, (0 to 100, where 0 means no pain at all and 100 means the worst possible pain) | 12 months after operation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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knee arthroplasty, rehabilitation, anti-gravity treadmill, Randomized study