How Can You Benefit from the Anti-Gravity Treadmill
The AlterG anti-gravity treadmill is a technology of the future! This technology’s innovative approach is highly impactful in many use cases, from competitive runners with intricate training plans to those recovering from an injury or surgical procedure.
AlterG’s anti-gravity treadmill simulates gravity reduction and its effects on the body without requiring a lunar landing.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise or rehabilitation, but the AlterG treadmill can help in various cases! To learn more about the anti-gravity treadmill and what it can do for you, contact Rose City Physical Therapy in Portland, OR, to consult a physical therapist today. We offer a free 20-minute discovery session and offer an unlimited monthly use membership for $200.00, or pay-as-you-go for fifty cents a minute.
Why You Should Consider the Anti-Gravity Treadmill
According to the AlterG website,
“AlterG® develops trusted, leading-edge rehab and training equipment using NASA Differential Air Pressure technology. Our Anti-Gravity Treadmill™ technology empowers people to move in new ways and without pain–to recover mobility, improve wellness, and enhance physical performance. In fact, AlterG can be found in over 4000 facilities around the world and has helped millions to safely and consistently reach their goals and achieve better outcomes.”
Everyone understands the basics of a treadmill, but the AlterG is unlike any other fitness equipment in a typical gym. The device, which uses NASA-patented technology, allows patients and athletes to participate in running or walking workouts by reducing their gravitational body weight. It is the only treadmill to calculate one’s body weight and allow specific body weight reduction.
Developed initially for astronauts looking to stay fit while in space, the technology intended to increase their apparent weight, which is necessary for astronauts’ bone and muscle health and integrity. The AlterG technology is now available to reduce the impact of exercise on the joints through role reversal.
The lower body is sealed in an airtight chamber after stepping into the AlterG by wearing a unique pair of skirted shorts. The skirt zips to the compartment to create an air-tight seal. Once sealed in the chamber, the equipment will adjust the air pressure to create the desired body weight environment. The level of the simulated gravitational resistance can then be adjusted, affecting how strenuous the workout is by changing the body weight one is experiencing. The AlterG allows one to exercise and run as low as 20% of their normal body weight. Imagine how happy those arthritic knees and hips will feel for those suffering from arthritis.
The Anti-Gravity Treadmill Explained
Weight, and thus gravity, is the number one enemy for many joint conditions. The resulting discomfort is painful and can pave the way for additional issues caused by overuse or adopting a sedentary lifestyle to avoid those activities entirely.
Users of the AlterG’s anti-gravity treadmill can still enjoy a rigorous cardiovascular workout while also strengthening the lower-body muscles, all without causing joint or injured bone compressive forces that would occur with “full gravity.”
This device will reduce the impact on your body weight by up to 80%. It is a type of treatment that can benefit anyone–athletes, those with lower extremity bone stress fractures, the obese person looking to lose weight before joint replacement surgery, seniors, and patients undergoing physical rehabilitation. It provides much-needed relief that most other treatments simply cannot offer.
The AlterG Treadmill can help you comfortably restore normal walking, jogging, and running cadence, as well as symmetrical weight bearing and stance phase of gait. It also allows strengthening exercises on a static treadmill belt that help recover from injury or surgery. This adds up to a much safer, faster, and more comfortable recovery than you might have had otherwise.
AlterG technology creates a controlled environment where patients can exercise and heal, allowing them to return to their favorite activities much sooner than expected. Patients can avoid unwanted risks such as swelling, inflammation, weakened muscles, or even atrophy by returning to physical activity as quickly as possible. Surgeons love it for the rehab of their patients.
What The Anti-Gravity Treadmill Can Do for You
Joint pain and wear affect different people in different ways. Still, as it’s a universal risk, virtually anyone can benefit from the technology by tailoring a specialized plan for their needs. These needs include, but are not limited to:
- Runners: Runners can pack on the mileage in training mode, presenting risks of cumulative stress on the body and injury risk. The AlterG’s low gravity environment can help diminish these stresses and the bad habits of sloppy form that can arise with exhaustion and muscle overexertion. Focusing on the correct technique and motion allows one to run longer and faster, getting race-ready sooner than ever.
Rose City Physical Therapy has recreational and professional runners from the Portland community who use the AlterG for many reasons. Whether managing minor niggles, building base training volume, completing weekly high-volume training with reduced load and stress on the body, or over-speed training.
- Injury rehab: Lower extremity injuries often are intolerant to full weight bearing or, if post-surgical, limited in weight-bearing by the surgeon. Getting back to optimal function can take a long time. Extended time off can lead to deconditioning, including loss of bone strength, weakness, and reduced cardiovascular health. Utilizing the AlterG early on in physical therapy fosters accelerated recovery and allows one to stay active without exacerbating the injury, returning to full recovery quicker than ever.
- Surgical rehab: No matter the patient’s age, those coming out of surgery often have a long healing and recovery process due to limited weight-bearing allowance by the surgeon. The ability to off-load body weight on the AlterG and increase or decrease it, as well as rehab exercise intensity, can be a huge game changer for those looking to get back on their feet. The ideal environment for patients can be a boon in fitness and recovery and provide a safe space to avoid a significant setback with a potential fall.
Begin a Treatment Plan Today
We are committed to developing the most effective physical therapy treatment plan for your needs. Following an initial consultation, your physical therapist will determine your problem areas and the best course of action for recovery and get you back to doing what you love. Your physical therapist will assess whether the AlterG Treadmill is appropriate for you. If so, it is included as part of your treatment plan and covered by your insurance.
If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists. We’ll start you on the road to recovery and long-term relief soon!
Are You a Runner Looking to Supplement Your Training?
The AlterG is a fantastic cross-training tool. We offer cash rates for the uninjured looking to manager that niggle, increase weekly volume, overspeed training, or to lessen high mileage impact. Rates as follows:
- Pay as you go: 50¢ per minute
- Ten 30-min sessions: $140
- Monthly Unlimited use: $200
Give us a call or send an email to set up a free 20-minute discovery session!