antigravity-treadmill — An AlterG antigravity treadmill.

By David Dack,
Running Coach

Are you recovering from a recent running injury or an underlying condition that causes pain in your muscles or joints? Do you suffer from hip, knee, ankle, or foot pain that makes running uncomfortable? Then you should consider hopping on an antigravity treadmill.

Here's the truth: Pain is a part of our life, and it sucks. It can make people — especially runners — feel as if they're out of options since they cannot exercise anymore. Fortunately, whether you're a weekend warrior or an elite marathoner who can't afford bench time, the antigravity treadmill can help with marathon recovery and so much more. This amazing piece of technology enables those with an injury or a condition to resume or keep training at their previous level, improve mobility and health, and recover much more effectively.

The History of the Antigravity Treadmill

Roughly 30 years ago, Dr. Robert Whalen, a biomechanics researcher at the NASA Ames Research Center, came up with the concept of the antigravity treadmill. More specifically, Dr. Whalen invented a treadmill that used air pressure in a bubble to prevent the astronauts (the people the machine was designed for) from floating off the machine.

The initial prototype enclosed the astronaut's lower body in an airtight chamber. Lowering air pressure inside this chamber causes the user to be pushed downward, simulating gravity in the process. This innovative design would allow astronauts to exercise in a more natural way on the International Space Station to improve VO2 max and total body conditioning, which, in turn, helps prevent muscle and bone mass loss.

But despite the originality, Whalen's idea never made it off the ground in NASA. Then in 2005, when the downward device was invented, the space treadmill had the potential to do the opposite, and therefore, the AlterG treadmill was born.

What Is the Antigravity Treadmill?

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few decades, then you're already familiar with the basics of a treadmill, but the antigravity treadmill is unlike any of the run-of-the-mill machines you'd find in a regular gym. Anti-gravity treadmills have gathered a lot of steam over the past few years. They might be the next evolutionary step, as some experts claim. The machine creates a strong lifting force, allowing for ultra-low impact weight-bearing. This, in turn, allows users to walk or run by reducing their apparent body weight.

Manipulating one's body's weight can have a wide range of implications for muscle recovery and health. Injuries and conditions such as total knee arthroplasty, shin splints, foot, and lower back pain can be effectively treated. For example, if you're obese or dealing with arthritis as well as other joint-stressing issues, the antigravity treadmill provides a great way to exercise and get fit.

The Main Secret

As I've explained earlier, the initial antigravity treadmill was intended to keep people (astronauts) down (and not floating around). But instead of increasing the user's weight, an antigravity treadmill reduces the weight of the user. But how does it manipulate gravity?

The technology uses a difference in pressure to offset the user's weight. More specifically, antigravity treadmills employ unloading and progressive loading to do the trick. The machine features a lower body, airtight bubble, which can manipulate gravitational resistance.

Imagine standing in an inflatable raft while someone else blows it up. That's how, in essence, an antigravity treadmill can offset weight. It may seem complicated, but it's not really. What's more, as you increase or decrease intensity, the air pressure in the capsule adjusts accordingly. As a result, not a lot of pressure is needed, making antigravity treadmills great for rehabilitation.

How to Use the Antigravity Treadmill

To exercise on an antigravity treadmill, you'll need to wear a pair of neoprene shorts with a skirt around the waist. Next, you'll be zipped into the chamber on the treadmill. This lets the lower portions of your body be supported by air pressure.

Once the user is sealed in, the AlterG system will calibrate to adjust. Next, you decide what percentage of weight offset and your running speed. The resistance gravity level you choose depends on your needs and the staff recommendation. You can opt for 20 percent to 100 percent of your body weight.

For example, if you're 180 pounds, using a 40 percent antigravity factor would effectively make you "weigh" only 108 pounds in the chamber. At 70 percent, you'll "weigh" 54 pounds.

Once everything is set, the treadmill functions like a standard treadmill with speed and incline adjustments for walking or running. You can power walk, train for your first 5K, or practice other weight-bearing exercises in this reduced gravity environment.

The Application of an Antigravity Treadmill

When it comes to conditions and injuries that afflict the lower body, weight, and therefore gravity, is one of the main culprits behind the pain. The subsequent pain can be debilitating and lead to additional problems from overuse or embracing a sedentary lifestyle to avoid weight-bearing altogether.

Here's the good news: the antigravity treadmill can benefit people from all walks of life—from the elderly recovering from knee surgery to the elite athlete nursing a stress fracture. The equipment can be successfully used to restore normal locomotion mechanics while also improving strength, mobility and supporting the healing tissue.

Let's look at some of the real-life applications of the antigravity treadmill.

The Antigravity Treadmill and Injury Prevention

If you're a serious endurance athlete, you can pack on the load in training mode, which may put you at risk of cumulative muscle and joint damage. But, by hopping on an antigravity treadmill, you may help take some of the load off your body, preventing injury in the process.

Even if you're used to cross-training in water, an antigravity treadmill offers as much resistance and is much more convenient than a pool workout, for instance.

Recovering Athletes

If you're returning to training from an injury, an antigravity treadmill will make it easier to begin walking and/or running earlier in the recovery process—and this without putting you at risk of pain or re-injury.

This can be really helpful for elite runners, triathletes as well as recreational fitness enthusiasts with specific goals in mind.

Improved Mobility

Lower body conditions can put a dent in your running routine. They can cause a lot of pain, and the recovery process can be lengthy and full of ups and downs. That's why being able to customize pressure on the lower body, decreasing or increasing intensity as needed can help recovering patients be back on their feet as soon as possible.

For example, if you just had ACL surgery, expect to have altered walking mechanics for roughly three to four weeks. Again, an antigravity treadmill can help by allowing patients to restore their mobility as soon as possible. That's not the whole story.

A range of patients suffering from neurological disorders, brain injuries, and sports injuries have benefited tremendously from antigravity treadmills.

Weight Loss

For people falling within the clinically obese category, especially when weight-bearing activity is too much to bear, the antigravity treadmill can help. In fact, these treadmills can serve as a great stepping stone in the world of exercise. It's no longer hard to get started with a workout plan, thanks to the antigravity treadmill.

The equipment can drastically limit impact stresses on the body, so you can drastically lower the risk of pain and improve your ability to sustain longer cardio training. This, in turn, helps you to lose weight faster.

Training Injuries and the Antigravity Treadmill

Here's a list of some of the conditions and injuries that can be efficiently managed via the use of an antigravity treadmill:

Achilles tendinitis
Foot issues
Runner's knee
ITBS
Low back problems
Plantar fasciitis
Shin splints
Stress fractures
Hip arthroplasty
Balance problems
General deconditioning
weight loss
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Complex regional pain syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis
Spine fusions

In other words, this amazing machine can help manage and treat most of the injuries that can strike the lower body.

Is the Antigravity Treadmill for You?

As I've discussed earlier, antigravity treadmills have a lot to offer, especially when it comes to clinical settings. But what about the average runner?

Unless you're recovering from a serious injury or surgery, I see no need for an antigravity treadmill in your training — especially the cost of using one as they're really expensive. In most cases, this unique equipment is used as a part of physical therapy treatment and might be covered by insurance when medically required.

Are you already injured? Then consult with your doctor first to ensure that an antigravity treadmill is the right choice for you. Once you get the green light, you'll start your first session on the antigravity treadmill. Keep in mind that it might take you a few tries before you get used to the feeling of running "on air."

David Dack is a running coach and fitness author. When he’s not training, he’s doing research and trying to help as many people as possible via his blog. Check out his work at Runners Blueprint for more info.

The Beginners Guide to the Antigravity Treadmill