BACKGROUND: To compare long-term effects of antigravity treadmill (AGT) combined with conventional rehabilitation (CR) and CR after hip fracture in patients with sarcopenia. METHODS: Forty-five patients were randomly allocated to AGT combined with CR (experimental group) or CR (control group) for 10 consecutive working days. Participants were evaluated prior to treatment, 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. Outcome measurement included Koval walking ability scores functional ambulatory category (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination, Euro Quality of Life Questionnaire Five-Dimensional Classification, Korean version of modified Barthel index, and grip strength. RESULTS: At 3 weeks and 3 months, the comparison of change scores in KOVAL between two groups revealed difference of 0.84 (95% CI -1.19 to -0.49; p for trend = 0.000) and 1.21 (95% CI -2.05 to -0.36; p for trend = 0.006), respectively. At 3 weeks, comparison of change score in FAC between two groups revealed a difference of 0.73 (95% CI 0.28 to 1.19; p for trend = 0.003). The comparison of change scores between two groups also showed a difference in the 6 months in KOVAL and in the 3 and 6 months in FAC. The comparison of changes in scores in BBS between two groups revealed difference of 11.63 (95% CI 5.85 to 17.40; p for trend = 0.001), 9.00 (95% CI 2.28 to 15.71; p for trend = 0.006), and 11.05 (95% CI 3.62 to 18.48; p for trend = 0.006), respectively, at each follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Both groups were improved after intervention. As additional benefits were evident among those who carried out AGT, it may be appropriate for patients with sarcopenia after hip fracture surgery.
Copyright the Gerontological Society of America. Reproduced by permission of the publisher.

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