Effectiveness of anti-gravity treadmill on gait quality of patients with orthopedic conditions: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: To identify the effectiveness of anti-gravity treadmill (AGT) on gait quality of patients with orthopedic conditions through a systematic review. Methods: Search was conducted in databases such as Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Database (PEDro), ScienceDirect, and NCBI for the articles published between January 2011 and April 2022. Included studies undergo data extraction, methodological quality assessment using the PEDro Scale and JBI Critical Appraisal Tool, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool. The main outcome evaluated in this study is the gait quality. Results: Out of 147 publications found, 11 studies with the mean of 37 the review included subjects. Anti-gravity treadmill appears to be effective equal to standard rehabilitation in improving the gait quality and the overall function of the patient. Discussion: The use of anti-gravity treadmill is safe and reliable, and it can be a complementary therapeutic option for improving gait quality in patients with lower extremity orthopedic conditions. However, due to the risk of bias assessment, there is no conclusive evidence to support the claims. To increase evidence power, studies with higher methodological quality and larger samples are required.