The Effect of Anti-Gravity Treadmill Training in Patients With Meniscus Tears

Meniscus tears are one of the most common sports-related injuries. Acute trauma-related tears are more common in active young individuals and athletes. Symptoms such as pain, effusion, tenderness at the joint line, locking, and knee dysfunction are observed after injury. It is aimed to provide painless movement, normal knee kinematics, and retaining of muscle strength in rehabilitation process. Anti-gravity treadmills use an inflatable space around the lower extremities and significantly reduce body weight during walking and running. Anti-gravity treadmill training protects the joint and surrounding soft tissues against the negative effects of loading during the post-injury recovery process, and allows the tissues to heal safely. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of anti-gravity treadmill training on symptoms and functions in patients with meniscus tears. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups: Anti-Gravity Treadmill Group, Conventional Treadmill Group, and Control Group. All patients will be included physiotherapy and rehabilitation program for 6 weeks, 2 days a week. While subjects in the Anti-Gravity Treadmill Group will participate to training anti-gravity treadmill walking, subjects in the Conventional Treadmill Group will participate walking program on a standard treadmill. Symptoms and functions will be assessed baseline and after 6-week program.