Anti-Gravity Treadmills – What can they do?
When one mentions the words “anti-gravity treadmill”, the first image that may come to mind is an elaborate machine that appears to belong in the future in some capacity, and indeed NASA developed the differential air pressure technique as a way for astronauts to exercise and maintain conditioning in space. However the technology is in existence and has been for some time – especially in the sporting domain. Many large and successful sporting organisations have invested much time and expenditure in these futuristic machines, with many benefits for athletes becoming apparent. This article will explore the mechanics of the device and what benefits exactly it brings to athletes and athletic performance
The “anti-gravity treadmill” was originally invented by Robert Whalen, a biomechanics researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, in the 1990s. Whalen knew that astronauts on the International Space Station have to exercise for hours each day to combat the loss of bone mass and muscle in microgravity. Whalen’s design, patented in 1992, encloses a treadmill and the astronaut’s lower body in an airtight chamber. Lowering the air pressure inside the chamber pushes the astronaut down, simulating gravity.
Further refinements to the machine followed and have created the device that is used in today’s sporting world. To use it, you put on a pair of tight neoprene shorts. The shorts have a sort of skirt attached, and the skirt is lined with zipper teeth. You step onto the treadmill, inside a hole in its plastic casing, and zipper yourself in so that, from the waist down, you’re encased in an airtight plastic bag. As you stand there, the treadmill measures your weight, and you tell it how intense you want your workout to be. The machine uses “unweighting technology” to make you feel up to 80 percent lighter. The terms “anti-gravity” and “unweighting technology” are enthusiastic descriptions for what the machine actually does, which is inflate the plastic bag around your lower body to lift you off the surface of the treadmill, although a bill of between €30,000 and €60,000 for either of the 3 available models may put some prospective athletes off!!
Antigravity treadmills are becoming increasingly popular in injury prevention and rehabilitation settings, and are being used across many sports. Weight sensors in the treadmill allow the Alter G to be operated at anywhere from 20-100% of the athlete’s body weight. The treadmills are used for rehabilitation from injury and post-surgery to facilitate early weight bearing at a reduced body weight, protecting the healing tissue, while maintaining normal running or walking. These types of treadmills claim to have the following benefits:
- decrease pain and minimize swelling in the early stages of recovery
- increase hip, knee, and ankle mobility by encouraging assistive range of motion
- progressively load the lower extremities to assist with strength, endurance, and neuromuscular re-education
- increase cardiovascular and muscular endurance in the later recovery stages of recovery
- initiate weightbearing activities earlier
Reason alone suggests the anti-gravity treadmill, with its ability to progressively re-introduce weight as an injured patient exercises, is an excellent tool for rehabilitation. Although very few studies have been conducted so far, only positive comments have been made and meanwhile therapists and researchers continue to study the impact on real patients. Indeed, the few studies that have looked at this area have mostly been positive in nature – The idea of athletes’ rehabilitation from Achilles surgery being aided by the treadmill has proven mildly significant and successful in getting athletes back to running properly. Another example is the theory of the treadmills successfully reducing forces on the knee in recovery from injury.
The anti-gravity treadmills aren’t just limited to use in athlete rehabilitation, they are also becoming used more often in training regimes. Sports therapists as well as sports trainers have already incorporated anti-gravity into their sessions. They are being utilised for training, with high mileage athletes incorporating treadmill sessions at reduced body weight. The treadmills can also be utilised for reverse running, incline and decline running, as well as over-speed training (max speed P200 27km/hour). Indeed endurance runners are now beginning to use this tool as a new way of shedding seconds and minutes off their running times.
Due to the recent nature of this type of treadmill, the jury is still out on its effectiveness. Scientists also agree, however, that more research is needed to compare the effectiveness of anti-gravity treadmills against highly established and validated rehab techniques such as deep water running and physical therapy. It may be positive in terms of injury rehabilitation, yet it requires further research in relation to significant, tangible improvements in athletic performance. Regardless of this, it seems as if anti-gravity treadmills are an example of the developments being implemented into modern athletic performance.
About Metrifit
Metrifit is an athlete monitoring system that gathers subjective and objective information from both coaches and athletes in a simple but effective manner with intelligent visualization helping coaches and athletes to act on that data. Why not have a look at our Ready to Perform product and gain insight on the physical and mental state of your athletes through our daily wellbeing questionnaire? To find out more visit our Metrifit Product Overview page or get in touch for a free demo.
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/niall_odriscoll-1-150x150.jpg)
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/niall_odriscoll-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/michael-torres-150x150.jpg)
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/michael-torres-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Erik-Helland-1-150x150.jpg)
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Erik-Helland-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/dan_rickaby-150x150.jpg)
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/dan_rickaby-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/brijesh-patel-1-150x150.jpg)
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/brijesh-patel-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/richard-deuchrass-1-150x150.jpg)
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/richard-deuchrass-1-150x150.jpg)
"When COVID altered college athletics as we knew it, Metrifit came to the rescue. This intuitive athlete monitoring, health and well-being system provides the athlete, coach, and sports medicine staff a way to monitor and balance the physical, emotional, health and well-being of our athlete’s. Metrifit provided that calm in the middle of the perfect storm for our entire athletic department for the future. Thank you to the entire Metrifit family for assisting our department with a seamless process."
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/JenniferMcIntosh-150x150.jpeg)
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/JenniferMcIntosh-150x150.jpeg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/brianclarke-1.jpg)
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/brianclarke-1.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/aaron_mansfield-150x150.jpg)
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/aaron_mansfield-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/tino-fusco-150x150.jpg)
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/tino-fusco-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/derek-bol-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/derek-bol-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/joe-o-connnor-1-150x150.jpg)
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/joe-o-connnor-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cian-oneill-150x150.jpg)
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cian-oneill-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Emma-Colour-V2-1-150x150.jpg)
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Emma-Colour-V2-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/leestutely-150x150.jpg)
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/leestutely-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/tommy-mooney.jpg)
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/tommy-mooney.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Eamonn-Fitzmaurice-1-150x150.jpg)
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Eamonn-Fitzmaurice-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/dave-passmore-150x150.jpg)
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/dave-passmore-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/edgar-k-tham-1.jpg)
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/edgar-k-tham-1.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Yvonne-Treacy-150x150.jpg)
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Yvonne-Treacy-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Dr-Dale-Richardson.2-150x150.jpg)
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Dr-Dale-Richardson.2-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ryan_osborn-150x150.png)
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ryan_osborn-150x150.png)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/JB-headshot-testimonial-150x150.jpg)
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/JB-headshot-testimonial-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/dan-horan-150x150.jpg)
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/dan-horan-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/rkfbprofil-small-150x150.jpg)
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/rkfbprofil-small-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Graham-Williams-1-150x150.jpg)
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Graham-Williams-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/jason-mcgahan-1-150x150.jpg)
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/jason-mcgahan-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kari-thompson-1-150x150.jpg)
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/kari-thompson-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/paul_cremin-1-150x150.jpg)
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/paul_cremin-1-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/schultz-kevin-150x150.jpg)
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/schultz-kevin-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/rob-walsh-200x200-150x150.jpg)
![](https://metrifit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/rob-walsh-200x200-150x150.jpg)