Objective
To assess the effectiveness of our devised hybrid physiotherapy regime using an anti-gravity treadmill and a low-frequency electrical stimulation device, as measured in patients with hip osteoarthritis after total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Methods
The outcomes of the postoperative rehabilitation in 44 patients who underwent THA for hip osteoarthritis were retrospectively examined. The conventional group (n=22) underwent the postoperative rehabilitation according to our protocol, while the hybrid group (n=22) underwent the same training, along with training on an anti-gravity treadmill and training using a low-frequency therapeutic device. The outcome measures were recorded and reviewed with the Numerical Rating Scale for pain, which rates pain on an 11-point scale from 0 to 10, surgical side knee joint extension force, 10-m walking test, Timed Up and Go test, and the 6-minute walking distance (6MD). The outcome measurement was taken 2 weeks after conducting pre-operation and antigravity treadmill training and electrical muscle stimulation, and compared the respective results.
Results
At the timeframe of 2 weeks from the surgery after conducting a devised hybrid physiotherapy, the values of knee extension muscle strength and 6MD were not worse in the hybrid group than conventional group. In the evaluation at 2 weeks after surgery, the knee extension muscle strength and 6MD values significantly decreased compared with the preoperative values only in the conventional group.
Conclusion
Lower limb muscular strength and endurance were maintained in the hybrid group, which suggested that hybrid physiotherapy could maintain physical functions early after THA operation.

Citations

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  Justyna Mazurek, Adam Wrzeciono, Małgorzata Ratajczyk, Olga Witczak, Joanna Szczepańska-Gieracha, Błażej Cieślik
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(13): 4918.     CrossRef
• Does postoperative exercise after hip arthroplasty improve strength and function? A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Zeyu Ye, Sai Yu, Leming Liao, Zebin Zhang, Li Lv
  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The application of antigravity treadmill training to clinical rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Jie Hao, Zixuan Yao, Andréas Remis, Na Ye, Yuxiao Sun, Dongqi Zhu, Kangchao Wu, Yao Yao
  Gait & Posture.2025; 122: 300.     CrossRef
• Functional assessment in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty
  Richard J. Rivera, Theofilos Karasavvidis, Cale Pagan, Rowan Haffner, Michael P. Ast, Jonathan M. Vigdorchik, Eytan M. Debbi
  The Bone & Joint Journal.2024; 106-B(8): 764.     CrossRef
• Sarcopenia and hip osteoarthritis: possible role for targeted electrical and biophysical muscle stimulation applications
  Ray Marks
  International Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Journal.2023; 8(1): 80.     CrossRef