Anti-Gravity Treadmill: AlterG
Recover from injuries and surgeries faster with the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill. Physical therapists at Summit Orthopedics use this innovative technology to minimize joint strain during physical therapy and fitness training. The system reduces pressure on your lower body, enabling you to exercise with less pain and discomfort—and get back on your feet faster.
If you need to strengthen your lower body or increase your activity level after an injury, AlterG may help. AlterG counteracts the forces of gravity when you walk or run, reducing the amount of weight your joints bear with every step. This way, you can walk or run more comfortably for longer, potentially speeding rehabilitation.
How Does an Anti-Gravity Treadmill Work?
An anti-gravity treadmill involves special shorts, an air chamber and a conventional treadmill. Together, the shorts and the air chamber form a bubble around your lower half. As a therapist fills the chamber, your weight is effectively lowered.
For an AlterG session, you pull on the shorts and then step onto the treadmill. You zip the shorts into the air chamber, sealing it so no air escapes. When your therapist turns the treadmill on, AlterG immediately determines your weight, and the air chamber fills around you.
As you exercise, the therapist may modify the air pressure inside the chamber to raise or lower the amount of gravity experienced. Based on your needs, AlterG can reduce the
gravitational effect of your body weight by up to 80%. The treadmill can also be set for forward, backward, inclined or flat-surface walking.
Your therapist will monitor you while using the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill and adjust as needed.
Who Benefits From an Anti-Gravity Treadmill?
The AlterG anti-gravity treadmill helps a variety of people achieve their recovery and performance goals. Those who may benefit from using an anti-gravity treadmill include:
- Athletes of all types. Professional sports teams turn to AlterG for training and recovery. Recreational athletes also use it to train without pain while reducing stress on joints and muscles. With AlterG, athletes of all types recover effectively with less discomfort after training or competition.
- Patients preparing for surgery. Improving fitness before hip or knee joint replacement reduces your risk for complications. It also helps you recover more quickly. AlterG helps build muscle strength around the joint undergoing surgery, support healthy weight loss and enhance cardiovascular health.
- Patients recovering from injury. Strengthening injured joints can be difficult. By reducing gravity’s effect on the lower extremities, the anti-gravity treadmill helps you safely recover from hip, knee, leg, foot and ankle injuries.
- People over age 65. Falling is a major cause of injury and loss of independence after age 65. AlterG helps increase strength and balance to reduce the risk of falls. Using the anti-gravity treadmill empowers you to walk or jog farther, faster and with more stability when you leave the therapy setting.
