When you need physical therapy and the ability to rebuild your leg muscles following an injury or surgery, anti-gravity treadmills offer a supportive and low-impact solution.
Unlike pool therapy, which provides you with a single change in weight, an anti-gravity treadmill can change the weight bearing on your injured leg or legs by a much wider and more precise range of weights. This allows you to move your legs more freely and with less pain than other therapy modalities may allow. In this article, we’ll look at what an AlterG treadmill is and the benefits you can realize when undertaking your rehabilitation.
What is an AlterG Treadmill?
A leg injury, whether of the lower leg, upper leg and hip, or ankle and foot, can be disabling, and getting through your therapy means that you can get back on your feet again as quickly as possible – but only if you’re undertaking the right therapy and avoiding further injury. An AlterG treadmill is an anti-gravity treadmill that uses NASA’s Differential Air Pressure technology to reduce the weight load on your legs while you restore strength, range of motion, and balance. The treadmill uses a pressurized air compartment to reduce your body weight in precise 1% increments, allowing you to slowly increase the weight borne by your legs as you progress through your therapy.
4 Benefits of AlterG Treadmills
Decreased Muscle and Joint Stress
The most obvious of the benefits of anti-gravity treadmills is that there is less weight on your muscles, bones, and joints, which in turn reduces the stress those structures are under while you’re undergoing your physical therapy and rehabilitation. The reduced weight allows you to slowly increase the weight on the problem area to improve strength over time.
Ensures Comfort and Safety for Injury Rehab
The next of the benefits of anti-gravity treadmills is safety and comfort. When you’re using this type of therapy, you can move your legs with less pain and risk of injury, because your body is supported otherwise. This makes it easier to move your legs and regain freedom of movement and strength without risking your recovery timetable.
Facilitate Quick Recovery
Early low-weight bearing leg exercise is one of the benefits of AlterG treadmill therapy because it reduces swelling and atrophy while you’re working your legs, improving recovery and results. The precise pressure measurements also allow you to proceed at the exact pace that you need, reducing your recovery time.
Tailored Solutions for Diverse User Needs
There are a range of conditions that can be treated effectively because of the benefits of anti-gravity treadmills. These include joint replacement or repair, muscle sprains, recovering muscle and bone strength after a break, and many more. The equipment allows us to tailor the right solution to your needs.
If you’re ready to receive the benefits of AlterG treadmill rehabilitation, the experienced professionals at BIG Physical Therapy can help. Contact us today to get started!
About the Author
Trey Short
Clinic Director in Gainesville
Specialties: Orthopedic injuries, blood flow restriction
Certifications: Dry needling, spinal manipulation, champion performance specialist (C-PS)
Location(s): Gainesville, GA
