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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is still well on his “Road to Recovery” after undergoing surgery to his right knee to repair an ACL injury suffered in training late last year. The champ has been documenting some of his activities on Youtube and in his latest video shows fans the use of an ‘Anti-Gravity Treadmill’. This device, produced by Alter G company, helps to reduce the weight of the runner by using an air pressured chamber to lift the person up thus reducing the impact to lower extremities.
Here is the Wikipedia explanation for the device and the therapeutic use description that GSP is utilizing the treadmill for.
An Anti-Gravity Treadmill is a rehabilitation device that utilizes adjustable weight-bearing technology on a standard treadmill used primarily for rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries and athletic training. The machine functions by controlling air pressure in a chamber to gently lift the user. Current models allow for precise unweighting from 100% – 20% body weight in 1% increments. The Anti-Gravity Treadmill can accommodate users weighing 85 lbs-400 lbs and heights 4’6-6’8. In addition, the treadmill can be used by people of all ages.
Orthopedic- The precise progressive loading capabilities of the differential air pressure technology (DAP) allows users to protect healing tissue after an injury or surgery, while encouraging normal walking mechanics. The results are less guarding from pain/inflammation, faster return of Range of Motion (ROM), and the ability to strengthen muscles safer in closed-kinetic chain activities.