When you sustain a sports injury, physical rehabilitation becomes a top priority in order to regain mobility and return to your athletic pursuits. With this in mind, your physical therapist is likely to recommend a combination of activities to restore functionality, strength, and flexibility. One device that can help in the wake of a sports injury is an anti-gravity treadmill. If you’re unfamiliar with this piece of equipment, here’s some helpful information to review. 

What Is an Anti-Gravity Treadmill?

An anti-gravity treadmill is a special piece of exercise equipment originally designed by NASA biomechanics researcher, Robert Whalen. The purpose of this treadmill was to help astronauts run naturally so they could continue to stay fit and maintain muscle mass when in zero gravity. To achieve this sensation, the lower half of the body is enclosed in an airtight chamber where air pressure is raised. Thus, when running on the treadmill, the astronaut’s body felt heavier. Today, the fundamentals of an anti-gravity treadmill are reversed so that individuals using the device can walk or run under conditions that reduce their body weight. 

What Are the Benefits of This Device?

Since an anti-gravity treadmill reduces your body weight, individuals using the device are able to walk and run with greater ease. This is incredibly beneficial for individuals healing from a sports injury as you’re still able to train, maintain muscle mass and build cardiovascular strength without putting unnecessary pressure on healing joints and ligaments. As such, you may be able to heal faster and return to normal activity after surgery on a shorter timeline.

This piece of machinery can also prevent over-exertion of joints and muscles in long-distance runners. Better still, this treadmill can help overweight individuals begin their fitness and weight loss journey as it allows you to walk or run with less strain on the body. 

If you’ve recently experienced a sports injury and you’re looking for comprehensive physical rehabilitation services that utilize state-of-the-art equipment like anti-gravity treadmills, Snyder Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation is your one-stop-shop for healing. Since opening in 1990, this team of highly skilled and experienced physical therapists has been helping individuals in Lincoln and across Lancaster County, NE, achieve increased mobility. Call today at (402) 489-1999 to schedule your appointment. Visit this clinic online to learn more about their approach to care.