Effects of Anti-gravity Treadmill Training on Knee Osteoarthritis in Geriatric Population.

Knee osteoarthritis is a very common disorder affecting majority of elderly population. There is considerable functional disability associated with this disorder. The financial burden associated with this disease is quite high. Although various forms of pharmacologic and non pharmacologic therapies exist for its management, but most of these interventions only deal with symptoms without taking into account the associated factors aggravating the condition. Research suggests that abnormal loading of an arthritic joint will only increase the pain and disability. Participation in a regular exercise program involving weight bearing activities is a successful way to reduce or prevent decline in functional abilities. But the major problem with this approach lies in its abnormal loading of joint leading to altered biomechanics resulting in more joint damage. To counter this problem, lower body positive pressure or anti gravity treadmills have been designed. These treadmills provide up to 80% body weight support, thus considerably un-weighing the joint while retaining proper joint biomechanics. So with the help of this specialized training unit, elderly population will be better equipped to cope with arthritic changes leading to greater functional independence.