Nasa 'anti-gravity' technology on show with AlterG at The Triathlon Show
Dion Harrison, 2008 amateur long distance World Triathlon Champion, will be demonstrating AlterG's new unique ‘anti-gravity’ technology for the media, at this year’s Triathlon Show, on the AlterG stand (N0.K1) at 4pm on Saturday 3rd March 2012.
Originally developed in the US by NASA and tested at Nike's Oregon Research Project by America's top distance runners, the AlterG treadmill is the only device of its kind in the world that uses ‘Differential Air Pressure’ that can ‘un-weight’ up to 80% of a person’s body weight, allowing for stable support in rehabilitating from injury.
Andrew Caudell, General Manager for AlterG Europe says: “We are very excited about introducing the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill to the triathlon world. The AlterG is great for anyone who wants to reduce impact during exercise or have a smooth rehabilitation after surgery or injury, and is preferred and used by leading medical professionals and the world's best athletes and teams.”
Andrew goes on to say; “The AlterG treadmill enables injured athletes to run and walk without bearing their entire weight, reducing the impact on the body to optimize rehabilitation and physical therapy outcomes. Its Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology applies a lifting force to the body that reduces weight on the lower extremities and allows precise un-weighting, of up to 80% of a person’s body weight, so people can find exactly where the pain stops and natural movement feels good again.”
AlterG Europe have built up an unrivalled reputation in the sports, healthcare and medical markets, having sold treadmills into sixteen out of the twenty UK Premiership football clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as clubs abroad Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Europe As well as several leading Premiership rugby clubs. In the US anti-gravity treadmills are used by Olympic distance runners, US athletic programs for NFL, MLB and NBA teams, collegiate and University sports programs and the US Olympic Training Centre.
Dion Harrison comments: “I first used the Alter G treadmill at Balance Performance in London in 2009 to increase my speed on interval work. One session a week over a 10 week block brought my ½ marathon PB within an half Ironman down from 1.18 to 1.15. In August 2011 I returned to use the Alter G as a rehabilitation tool for an achilles injury. The Alter G treadmill has been a crucial part of my rehab. It has enabled me to start running again which has been a hugely beneficial part of the rehab process. The effect of simply been able to run again and the endorphins it produces can’t be underestimated either. I started running at 60% body weight & purely focused on pain free running. From there, we’ve built it up over 10 weeks to a point where I’m now running 120km a week at 87% body weight and averaging 17kph.”
The Alter-G treadmill can be used for physical therapy, surgical recovery and elder healthcare and maintenance. Other UK customers include health & Leisure club operators, private hospital groups, military rehabilitation units, sport physiotherapists, personal trainers and sports coaches. Anti-Gravity training enables faster rehabilitation in safer conditions.
Dr Lucy Goldby PhD MCSP, Co-Founder and Clinical Director at Balance Performance, one of AlterG‘s UK partners who have an AlterG treadmill for patient rehabilitation says: “For rehabilitation we used to work with elbow crutches and ask weight bearing, non-weight bearing? Partial or Egg-shell? Now we can say, 64% weight bearing or 89% or 32% or 34%? We can be totally bespoke to the difficult pathological fractures, non-unions, reconstructive surgery, the list is endless. For some conditions the speed of rehabilitation has changed dramatically. In Tendo Achilles repairs which necessitate immobilisation for a long period of time, the patients are immediately on their feet in a very supported and comfortable way. A lot of the psychological fear of movement which accompanies lengthy immobilisation is eradicated by the support the machine gives. The patient cannot fall or accidentally put too much weight on the limb. The same is true for those with amputations and joint replacements.”
Patients can recover from injury and surgery and it allows them to immediately do partial weight bearing exercises. Patients with neurological disorders maintain, and in some cases even regain functionality and mobility working with the AlterG. Injured athletes can immediately experience what it would feel like to weigh less, and exercise with less joint impact and stress, and improve their cardiovascular health.
Please bring your running shoes with you and visit Stand No.K1.to experience ‘anti-gravity’ running!!
