Take a Load Off with Antigravity Treadmilling
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Bored bikers or the pool-averse looking for a new zero-impact aerobic activity have a new option: the anti-gravity treadmill. Originally developed for NASA, the antigravity treadmill uses an air pressure regulation system to create a lifting force. Runners become “unweighted” while maintaining their natural stride and body movement.

If you’re overweight and beginning a jogging program, but find road work unbearable on your hips and knees, the anti-gravity treadmill might be worth considering. And in February the FDA gave the G-Trainer, an antigravity treadmill made by a company called Alter-G, Inc. www.alter-g.com, clearance for medical applications. The anti-gravity trainer can be used in much the same way that runners recovering from surgery or with lower-extremity injuries, such as stress fracture or Achilles tendonitis, have traditionally used deep water running to remain aerobically fit during rehab. The FDA acknowledged the device’s diversity of uses beyond runners’ rehab, including strength and conditioning for older patients, weight control for the general population, and even gait training for those with neurological conditions.

The G-Trainer’s gravity differential technology was prototype-tested by Nike’s Oregon Project for distance runners, and is currently in use at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, among an increasing number of other clinics. Weight, speed, and incline adjustments can be made so a runner can decide precisely how much gravitational resistance is desirable. Body weight can go as low as 20% of original weight with reduction increments of 1% to allow for progressive weight bearing.

The device seems promising for those relearning to walk while recovering from stroke or with other mobility limitations. Because the resistance in water is 12 to 14% greater than land running, traditional deep water running or aquajogging can be a tremendous tool to increase speed and strength for healthy runners. It’s use as a rehabilitative tool, however, is less broad—many non-runners have difficulty with the workouts if they are simply trying to heal a broken leg without remaining completely sedentary. 

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