2023 OTA Annual Meeting : A Randomized Trial Comparing Anti-Gravity Treadmill Therapy Versus Standard of Care: It’s Safe and Patients Like It

78 patients with knee or ankle fractures who underwent plate fixation were randomized to receive either 10 weeks of anti-gravity treadmill therapy (n=38) or standard care (8 weeks of non-weightbearing; n=40). The primary outcomes of interest were the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) scores at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included 6 month physical function scores, 12 month fracture healing and complications, and patient satisfaction. The results found no significant differences between the two groups in all clinical outcomes. However, AOS scores were marginally in favour of the anti-gravity treadmill group (p=0.05), and patients who received anti-gravity treadmill therapy reported significantly higher satisfaction (p=0.01).