The Antigravity Treadmill as a Postoperative and Injury Rehabilitation Tool: Reduction in Contact Forces and Muscle Activity With Reduced Weight Running.

Objective: To investigate the effects of reduced weight running on the antigravity (AG) treadmill on maintenance of normal muscle activation and reduction of plantar forces in healthy subjects.

Design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Setting: Clinical sports medicine center.

Participants: Twenty healthy subjects (10 male and 10 female) aged 18 to 29 years.

Independent variables: Subjects running at 6.5 miles per hour on a standard treadmill and on the AG treadmill at 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50% of bodyweight levels.

Main outcome measures: Dynamic plantar loading data were recorded using pressure insoles. Surface electromyography electrodes with imbedded accelerometers were used to estimate timing and magnitude of muscle activity, stride length, and cadence.

Results: There was a significant, sequential reduction in peak pressure, maximum force, and force time integral (FTI) with decreasing bodyweight. A 50% bodyweight reduction resulted in a 51% reduction in maximum force and a 59% reduction in FTI in the heel, as compared with 19% to 28% at the metatarsal heads. There was reduced contact area in the heel and midfoot at and below 70% BW. Lower limb muscle activity decreases with reduced bodyweight while maintain normal muscle recruitment timing.

Conclusions: The AG treadmill provides a reduction in loading forces while maintaining normal muscle recruitment patterns. Decreased BW running preferentially unloads the hindfoot. The AG treadmill can be an effective rehabilitation tool following foot or ankle injury and may prove superior to other limited weight-bearing methods.