Day 33 – The Alter-G Treadmill
10/11/2009 This morning I came across an amazing program called My Big Fat Body on Discovery Health. The star of the show, Frank, went through an amazing realm of tests. The most interesting was the Anti-Gravity Treadmill or Alter-G Treadmill. 
It’s a normal treadmill but the lower half is completely encased in plastic.
The Alter-G Treadmill reduces your weight by a certain percentage. On any given day at 363 lbs. Frank’s knees experience 720lbs of pressure. This treadmill reduces your weight by 30%, by 50% or even 99%, which is very useful if you need to take the load off your joints. I too have a knee injure that flares up from time to time so I was very interested. At first Frank was walking at his normal pace but soon the chambers air pressure was modified and pretty soon he was walking at 28% air pressure, which was 100 lbs less, then 50%. He actually had a bounce in his step. He was running like a gazelle. When his 200lbs were added back the bounce was gone and the laboring step returned. It was such a visual representation of what life will be like when my bounce returns. Call me Tigger. I’m leaving Eeore behind.
Shelli Belly 
I need one of those! That is gonna help so many people that have joint pain.
Have a great week!
I wish I could try one of these out. Every PT should have acess to one of these.
That is awesome!!! Thanks for sharing.
If they didn’t cost a bazillion dollars, I would order one today! LOL. That was interesting, maybe the gyms will someday have these…one can dream. 🙂
Loretta
I sure wouldn’t mind giving it a whirl. Just think to actually be 300+ but actually walking at 150lbs. Exercise would be a joy. As I walk the track today I’ll recite a new mantra “Light as a feather. Light as a feather.”
That would be neat to try!
Where’s the science Alter-G? Lots of wild claims and anecdotal evidence. Case studies on their web site are all from PT’s (trial and error) not MD’s, IRB or any real science. Been in business since 2005, where’s the science?
Interesting question… where’s the science?
I have exercised on land and I have exercised in the pool. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the difference regarding the impact on my painful joints!
Since I am allergic to chlorine and can’t do pool exercises anymore, I would still buy one in a heartbeat! 🙂
Loretta
I just can’t wait to be light as a feather instead of my creaky old self. My bounce will return and soon I’ll be moving stronger and stronger. It was just so interesting to see this 363lb man walking as if he was only 150lbs. such and impact and a visual representation of what’s life going to be like. It’s been so long I just couldn’t invision myself at a different weight. Now I can.
SCIENCE
ci⋅ence [sahy-uhns]
–noun
1. a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws:
2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
any nimrod can say, weigh less, hurt less, but Alter-G is claiming MEDICAL BENEFITS.
You say, interesting question. I say, Alter-G, PROVE IT
Wow. Interesing conccept. That’s cool! Sounds like it would be a crazy experience. Thanks for pointing this out, Shelli
The funny thing, Woodrow, is that even science, at its basis takes faith. SO much of what we “know” about science can’t be seen (i/e gravity, quarks, dark matter)…it’s still faith even if an MD tells you it’s true. I was following your skepticism until you threw in the “nimrod” statement. That kinda sunk your comments for me. Besides, I’m sure most scientists would agree with “weigh less, hurt less”…
faith, common sense and newton’s 3 laws are great starters. But they are claiming medical benefits. Let me quote a couple from their own web site
1. Neuromuscular and proprioceptive re-training. Newton or faith or common sense cover that?
2. Lowers the risk of falling. Really? Any studies to support that claim?
3. Improves neuromuscular control and activity and promotes brain plasticity. I don’t see any studies on this claim either.
And these are the medical ones. The sports/fitness ones are just as substantiated and unsupported by real science, aka IRB STUDY