Injury Prevention on an AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill

Whether you’re an athlete who wants to prevent overuse injuries or a patient recovering from an existing injury, gravity can be your worst enemy. Having to carry your own weight as you work through physical therapy puts added strain on your muscles and joints — strain you want to avoid as you recover.

But now, there’s an alternative solution. At JAG Physical Therapy, you can take gravity out of the equation with the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill®.

Contact us to learn more about this revolutionary rehabilitation equipment, find a location near you offering the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, or schedule an appointment today.

What Is the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, and How Can It Help Prevent Injuries?

Studies show that anti-gravity treadmills reduce ground reaction forces (GRFs), one of the primary causes of sports injuries. For that reason, they have proven helpful in preventing injuries in healthy athletes and helping injured people heal more quickly. This is because people who train on the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can help better maintain muscle mass and aerobic fitness during the rehabilitation process.

The Technology Behind the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill

Derived from NASA research, the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill uses a pressurized air chamber to “uniformly reduce [the user’s] gravitational load and body weight in precise 1% increments,” up to 80% of their body weight. This breakthrough technology uses differential air pressure (DAP) to create a lifting force, thus reducing the load on the lower extremities.

Why AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill Can Help Prevent Injuries

With reduced forces on their lower extremities, people in recovery from an injury can improve their range of motion, balance, and strength without risking further injury. People who are undertaking a physical fitness program can also better their performance without fear of overuse injuries.

Anti-Gravity Treadmills vs. Traditional Treadmills

Compared to traditional treadmills, an anti-gravity treadmill reduces the strain on the muscles and joints. People who only train on normal gravity equipment run the risk of developing overuse injuries. When they use anti-gravity treadmills, like AlterG, they’re less likely to suffer injuries that could take them away from their preferred physical activities.

What Types of Injuries Can AlterG Training Help Prevent and Treat?

Overuse Injuries

The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill’s capability to minimize impact and the stresses of bearing one’s body weight enables physically active people to hone the finer points of their technique while reducing their chances of overuse injuries.

Acute Injuries

Additionally, with better technique and less strain on their muscles and joints, those who use the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill will be less likely to suffer acute injuries due to technical errors. Training on an anti-gravity treadmill allows them to develop the kind of muscle memory that puts them at a lesser risk for injury.

Lower Extremity Injuries

Athletes at all levels push their lower extremities to provide the speed, torque, and vertical jumps they need to perform their best in their sport. It’s no wonder, then, that strains, sprains, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and even fractures send so many active people to the emergency room each year.

Since AlterG can reduce the impact of gravity, patients can begin rehabilitation more quickly than ever before, enabling them to train at only 20% of their actual body weight. As they recover, they experience less pain and can increase the load gradually in increments of only 1%, should they need to.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries, whether due to chronic conditions or trauma, are some of the most serious injuries people can suffer. Studies show that training with an AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill produces “statistically significant results” in improving gait, balance, and ambulatory speed.

Neurological Conditions

Neurological health conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and cerebral palsy significantly affect a patient’s mobility and balance. Research has shown that physical therapy that incorporates anti-gravity technology has helped increase patients’ balance, gait quality, and mobility, decreasing their risk for falls and giving them more independence.

Which JAG Physical Therapy Locations Offer AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill Treatment?

Take advantage of AlterG’s leading-edge technology to rehab from an injury or reduce your risk for further injury at one of JAG PT’s convenient locations:

JAG PT’s caring staff has a wealth of expertise in both sports medicine and physical therapy. Trained extensively in using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill for injury prevention and rehabilitation, they can help you map out an injury prevention program tailored to your exact needs – schedule your personal consultation with us today to get started.