A few weeks ago, the PR company for AlterG contacted me about trying their Anit-Gravity Treadmill. Of course, I was immediately intrigued.
As you probably remember, I’ve suffered a number of running-related injuries in the past, so I know that the recovery process can often be long and frustrating, especially when the doctors tell you not to run, which is the one thing you want to do so badly.
I can only imagine how helpful an Anti-Gravity Treadmill would have been when I was struggling with my injuries. With this type of treadmill, I probably could have run without pain, and I bet it would have bettered the outcome of my physical therapy treatments.
Originally created for NASA’s astronauts, the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill is used for:
- Rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries
- Treatment of neurological conditions
- Weight reduction
- Aerobic conditioning
- General training to combat the diseases of aging
AlterG takes pressure off the joints by using a pressure-controlled chamber to gently lift the user, which helps to normalize the gait (i.e. no limping) while still protecting healing tissue, which leads to a quicker recovery from injuries. Additionally, using AlterG can improve aerobic conditioning without increasing the risk of stress-related injury, so users can return to activities like walking and running sooner.
We are keeping our runners running (most of them) while rehabilitating them, we are getting them better faster, we are allowing them to return after injury at the levels they were before injury (no loss in fitness), we are increasing strength and tolerance to activity in a quantifiable way”¦
Mike Silva, PT, President & Founder
Foundation Performance
In order to try the AlterG treadmill myself, I put on a pair of funky shorts with a hoop and a zipper around them. The shorts create a seal that is necessary to maintain the pressure in the AlterG.
The pressure-controlled chamber then filled with air, and I was gently lifted”” enough to take pressure off of my joints, but my feet still touched the treadmill, so I could run normally. It was so cool! I can definitely see how this type of treadmill would be perfect for injured runners or those coming back from surgery. You can still run without hindering your recovery.
There are only three AlterG treadmills in Massachusetts. I tried this one at the Life Care Center in West Bridgewater, where they use it mainly for the rehabilitation of their aging population.
I know how frustrating injuries can be, especially for normally active folks, so I just wanted to let you guys know that this option is out there. It seems like anti-gravity treadmills are becoming more and more popular, so, hopefully, people will have access to them in the future. As a runner, I would definitely seek this out if I were to get injured again.
Lunch
When I got home from testing out the anti-gravity treadmill, I was more than ready for lunch. Thankfully, we have a refrigerator full of leftovers, so I made myself a plate with sausage, potato salad, and watermelon.
Snack
After lunch, Mal and I had some errands to run at the Derby Street Shoppes, so once we finished them, we popped into Pinkberry for a quick snack. We shared a small Salted Caramel with yogurt chips, nuts, and Health Bar pieces on top. It was heavenly. Salted Caramel is now my new favorite Pinkberry flavor.
Is it dinnertime yet? I’m hungry!
