Unweighting Technologies
Physical therapy unweighting technologies, like the AlterG treadmill and Biodex NextStep, use air pressure or suspension to reduce a patient's effective body weight, allowing earlier, pain-free, and safer gait/balance training after injury, surgery, or for neurological conditions, promoting faster recovery, better motor control, and confidence by minimizing impact and fall risk.
How Unweighting Works
-
Differential Air Pressure: The AlterG uses an airtight chamber and pressurized air to lift the user, reducing weight in precise 1% increments.
-
Suspension Systems: Systems like Biodex's NextStep use harnesses and overhead supports to provide partial body weight support over ground or a treadmill, allowing for natural gait.
Key Benefits in Therapy
-
Reduced Pain & Impact: Less stress on joints and injured areas, enabling longer, more comfortable exercise.
-
Early Mobility: Start walking and balance training sooner, even with severe weakness or instability.
-
Fall Prevention: Creates a secure, fall-safe environment, boosting confidence.
-
Improved Gait & Coordination: Focus on proper walking patterns (motor re-learning) without fear of falling.
-
Aerobic Fitness: Maintain cardiovascular conditioning during recovery.
Who Benefits?
-
Patients recovering from: ACL, knee/hip surgery, joint replacements, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI).
-
Individuals with: Parkinson's Disease, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, balance issues, osteoporosis.
-
Pediatric patients needing gait training.
Applications
-
Gait Training: Correcting walking patterns, even walking backward.
-
Balance & Posture: Practicing sit-to-stands and balance control.
-
Sports Performance: Athletes can train longer with less injury risk.