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Advancements in rehabilitation and athletic training have incorporated innovative technologies to enhance recovery and performance. One significant innovation example is the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, which features NASA-developed Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology to reduce users' effective body weight, which provides a new approach towards training and rehabilitation (AlterG, n.d.). It is made up of a pressurized air chamber that encases the lower body, which is attached to a treadmill surface, along with an advanced controlling system for adjusting body weight and delivering real-time feedback (NASA, 2009). Users wear specially designed shorts that secures them properly to the chamber. The ability to "reduce gravitational load and body weight in precise 1% increment", ranging from 20% to 100%, creates a lower impact force when running or walking, which minimizes joint stress (AlterG, n.d.; De Heer et al., 2020, as cited in NCBI, n.d.). Having the capabilities to facilitate low impact exercises while providing accurate performance analysis, this technology has not only transformed physical recovery but also optimized athletic training.
Although the AlterG treadmill offers substantial benefits in rehabilitation and athletic training through its innovative weight-reduction technology, real-time performance analysis, and enhanced comfort provided by the specially designed shorts that create a secure and supportive fit, its high cost and limited accessibility pose significant barriers to wider adoption.
One of the benefits of the AlterG treadmill is the ability to reduce users' body weight for different purposes, including athletic training and rehabilitation. AlterG treadmill allows the users to freely decide how much gravitational load is acting on them by calibrating it on the control panel, creating a personalized approach for their own objectives. This precise weight reduction allows gradual progression for patients' recovery, and also enable runners to clock in their training mileage without imposing stress towards their musculoskeletal system (Drew, 2023). According to Vincent et al. (2022, as cited in NCBI, n.d.), usage of AlterG treadmill allows "reduction in cadence, ground reaction forces (GRF), GRF impulses, knee and ankle range of motion, and vertical stiffness, with elevation in stride duration, flight time, ground contact time, and plantarflexion." AlterG has evidence proving that it improves health condition, whether it be losing weight or strengthening your lower body (Pain Clinic @ Wellness Philosophy, 2023). Runners are able to preserve their aerobic fitness, muscle activation patterns, and muscle mass during the recovery phase, especially when compared to standard rehabilitation methods (Vincent et al., 2022, as cited in NCBI, n.d.)
Another benefit is the ability to provide accurate real-time performance analysis. The ability to provide such data gives the user a better understanding of their current physical state. For recovery patients, the data is paramount in the treadmill as it ensures that the load is not too much for them to handle, therefore assuring safety when operating (Huntington Orthopedics, 2024). Safety, along with a recovery program, provides patients to have an effective recovery in a controlled environment. For runners, the real-time gait data and video monitoring will be useful with immediate visual feedback to allow you to reach your goal progressively (Pain Clinic @ Wellness Philosophy, 2023).
One of the features that AlterG treadmill possesses is its specially designed shorts connected to the chamber, which provide enhanced comfort compared to the traditional harness systems (NASA, 2009). According to the NASA (2009), when the harness system is being used by an obese individual, the "harness system chafe and can become uncomfortable". Furthermore, a harness system provides no reliable and precise way of adjusting the weight, it also does not provide real-time data to keep track of the users' progress. However, with specifically designed shorts, the AlterG treadmill is able to keep the support constant even when the system is supporting a high percentage of weight.
One problem with the AlterG treadmill is its cost which presents a substantial barrier for individuals seeking rehabilitation or training options at home. Prices range from $35000 to $75000, depending on the model of the AlterG treadmill, which is impractical for most consumers (Drew, 2023). As Drew (2023) highlighted, this high price point limits access and forces people to seek out facilities that offer AlterG treadmill session, with some 30-minute sessions costing up as much as $25. Moreover, the limited availability of the treadmill means that users have to wait for a long time before gaining access at the rehabilitation centers or gyms. With $1000, the NordicTrack treadmill offers the same concept. Although it cannot lift up 100% of the users' weight, it can remove up to 45 pounds (Brooks, 2023). However, AlterG is finding ways to make the product more affordable, and they believe that it will "become a standard care in rehabilitation" (NASA, 2009).
In conclusion, there is sufficient evidence to prove that the benefits of AlterG treadmill will significantly improve rehabilitation and athletic training. Although the treadmill is rooted in NASA's research and development which reinforces the credibility, AlterG has to come up with a way to reduce the cost of product to make it accessible to a broader audience.
References:
Vincent, H. K., Madsen, A., & Vincent, K. R. (2022). Role of Antigravity Training in Rehabilitation and Return to Sport After Running Injuries. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35141546/
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