Patient with total hip arthroplasty capable of full weight bearing walkingon a treadmill with partial body weight support, with crutches and withoutaids

Problem: Treadmill training with partial body weight support is a new promi sing technique in the rehabilitation in hip arthroplasty patients. With lit tle data on the gait pattern and extent of pelvitrochanteric muscle activat ion, this study analysed the gait of hip arthroplasty patients walking on t he treadmill and also during floor walking with and without crutches. Metho d: Gait analysis in 19 hip arthroplasty patients capable of full weight bea ring included the assessment of kinematics, kinetics and kinesiologic elect romyogram of relevant trunk and lower limb muscles during treadmill walking with 15% of body weight support, and during floor walking with and without crutches at comparable walking velocities. Results: Both on the treadmill and with crutches, patients walked less frequent, with a longer stride and more symmetric as compared to the unaided gait. Both techniques, however, r esulted in a reduced activation of most of the pelvitrochanteric muscles, p articularly when using crutches. The comparison of both supporting methods revelaed a higher activity of the M. gluteus medius of the affected side on the treadmill. The amount of body weight reduction was comparable ranging from 10 to 15%. Conclusions: Treadmill training with constant body weight s upport enables hip arthroplasty patient to entrain a dynamic and symmetric gait pattern with a better activation of the hip abductor of the affected s ide as compared to walking with crutches. Nevertheless, the level of activa tion was less than when walking without crutches which, however, resulted i n a limping gait pattern.