Problem: Treadmill training with partial body weight support is a new promising technique in the rehabilitation in hip arthroplasty patients. With little data on the gait pattern and extent of pelvitrochanteric muscle activation, this study analysed the gait of hip arthroplasty patients walking on the treadmill and also during floor walking with and without crutches.
Method: Gait analysis in 19 hip arthroplasty patients capable of full weight bearing included the assessment of kinematics, kinetics and kinesiologic electromyogram 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, resulted in a reduced activation of most of the pelvitrochanteric muscles, particularly when using crutches. The comparison of both supporting methods revealed 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 support enables hip arthroplasty patient to entrain a dynamic and symmetric gait pattern with a better activation of the hip abductor of the affected side as compared to walking with crutches. Nevertheless, the level of activation was less than when walking without crutches which, however, resulted in a limping gait pattern.