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Take a Run on the Alter-G Anti-Gravity Treadmill

I Fell in Love with Alter-G 

By Dr. Mary Swift

I fell in love the first time I ran on an Alter-G. I’ve never been a great runner, but there isn’t any other cardio that burns my fat better than running. On my own, the most I ever could run without stopping was one mile; and at 53, running on my own isn’t pretty. A little L5 compression has left me with a bit of a toe drag and I worry about tripping. That said, the first time I got on an Alter-G, I ran 5 miles and felt as if I could run 20. I ran like I run in my dreams! I ran at 50 percent of my body weight so it was like losing 70 pounds. My gait was strong and comfortable, and my spirits soared. Instantly I was addicted!

If you’re reading this, you either have heard about Alter-G and can’t believe you could get on one without being an elite athlete or a rehab patient, or you have no idea what Alter-G is and your curiosity brought you here. For the curious, Alter-G is a way to run again without pain, a way to run faster if you’re training, or a way just to put one foot safely in front of the other without fear of falling. You “zip” into Alter-G and the computer uses air to lift you from the waist down. You then can walk or run at whatever percentage of your body weight feels comfortable. Alter-G takes the place of pool work in rehab, but joggers love it because they can control the amount of weight taken off for longer, more comfortable runs. Computer-controlled programming lets you drop back onto earth one percent of your body weight at a time.

You may ask, who came up with the idea for Alter-G. Well, it originally started as a NASA project designed to increase gravity. Astronauts must ‘load’ their muscles in order to avoid loss of muscle mass while living in a weightless environment. Rumor has it, someone flipped the switch from “suck to blow” and Alter-G for non-astronauts was born. The result is a machine that will lift you as you run, rather than weigh you down.

There are lots of YouTube videos demonstrating its use, but you have to experience Alter-G to truly get it. If you’re at SWEAT on a bike because your knee bothers you when you run and you think your running days have ended, think again! Look down from the mezzanine at SWEAT’s Alter-Gs on site. Better yet, get off that bike and get on the Alter-G for a free demonstration!

ALTER-G ANTI-GRAVITY TREADMILL
Alter-G was cleared by the FDA in 2008 as a medical device used for the treatment of the following conditions:

  • Rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries;
  • Treatment of neurological conditions;
  • Weight reduction;
  • Aerobic conditioning;
  • General training to combat the diseases of aging.

The Alter-G uses a pressure-controlled chamber to gently lift the user. Precise calibration allows for very specific unweighting from 100-20% of the user’s body weight in 1% increments.

Clinical studies show that the Alter-G can help decrease ground reaction forces in walking and running. The restoration of normal gait mechanics is essential to optimal recovery and can be accelerated by the patented unweighting technology.

Whether you are an extreme athlete, recovering from an injury or simply interested in exploring new modalities to include in your fitness program, the Alter-G offers numerous fitness benefits. It is also a lot of fun!

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE ALTER-G WORKS IN THIS VIDEO

 

TAKE A RUN ON THE ALTER-G ANTI-GRAVITY TREADMILL AT SWEAT

SWEAT is the only fitness center in the Dallas area to offer an Alter-G treadmill. SWEAT offers members a high-end, high-energy fitness experience with the highest quality fitness equipment available. Our trainers are recognized experts in the wellness and fitness industry.

In addition to personal training, SWEAT offers members group exercise classes, muscle activation technology, soft tissue manipulation and chiropractic services.

Are you ready to get your SWEAT on?

SWEAT is located in the Inwood Village Shopping Center.

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