Anti-gravity treadmills can be used for both physical therapy and athletic training purposes
The Anti Gravity Treadmill is a fairly new rehabilitation apparatus designed mostly for rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries and athletic training sessions. The device works by regulating air pressure in a chamber to lift the person using it so that less stress is put on their muscles, ligaments, and tendons during exercise.
The Anti-Gravity Treadmill was created in 1992, by doctor Robert Whalen and doctor Alan Hargens at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, The purpose was to design helpful exercise routines for NASA astronauts. The technology was us on the space station to mimic the Earth’s gravity preventing bone loss and muscle deterioration.
Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology has been adapted by AlterG to help with rehabilitation and also training of athletes. AlterG is a company based in California and was founded in 2005 by Robert Whalen’s son, Sean. The very first prototype of the Anti-Gravity Treadmill was released in 2006 for the Nike Oregon Project.
The Anti-Gravity treadmill is currently used by nursing facilities, hospitals, and clinics for conditioning of senior citizens and physical therapy patients. The Anti Gravity Treadmill has also been used by orthopedic and neurologic patients in their recovery programs. It is also used in the training regimens of a number of professional and NCAA sports teams.