A special pool project for rehabilitation of hip and knee arthroprosthesis.
OBJECTIVE
The use of ankle or knee arthroprostheses is increasing and proper rehabilitation is needed after the surgery. We have designed a special pool where normal gait can take place under partly unweighted conditions, thus improving quality of therapy and reducing the length of stay. Underwater TV recording permits daily gait analysis.


METHODS
Data are provided on pool shape, length and depth of the walkway, water conditions, safety and other facilities. The cost has been compared to commercial pools of the same type.


CONCLUSIONS
The design permits accurate definition of stride parameters during rehabilitation which enables the programme to be optimized. The pool is cheaper than commercial ones but offers many more research possibilities. The Authors are glad to share their expertise freely upon request.
Giaquinto
Salvatore
S
San Raffaele H Pisana Rehabilitation Centre, Rome, Italy. sgiaquin@libero.it
Margutti
Ferdinando
F
Romano
Franco
F
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D013551:Swimming Pools / Q000191:economics