Since posting on Instagram about running on the antigravity treadmill, better known as the AlterG treadmill, many people have asked me to write about my AlterG treadmill experience.
The AlterG is a great tool that I am fortunate to access. You can see a full list of AlterG treadmills near you or in your area. If you’re Philadelphia or Southern New Jersey local, the one I’ve been using is RunningCo. Of Haddonfield.
AlterG Treadmill is not paying me, or sponsoring this post is anyway.
Like many runners, I like to run outside when I have the time. I’m no stranger to the AlterG treadmill and have used it recovering from a few injuries. Injury recovery is probably the most well-known reason to use an antigravity treadmill, but it’s not the reason I’m using it now.
As I’ve mentioned, I’m busy, and running outside is not always an option unless I want to run in midday at 90 degrees. Since I don’t, my choices are to run on a regular treadmill, run on the AlterG treadmill, or don’t run. Because I also don’t know what each day will bring, my training could also be all over the place. One week, I could have time for 70 miles. The next week, only 20. Drastic changes in mileage would create an injury. So, I settled on running on the AlterG treadmill. I’ll still get a workout in and retain muscle memory. However, I won’t put as much stress as my body.
As I mentioned, many people use the AlterG treadmill to run while recovering from an injury. There are a few great articles and case studies of how elite runners have trained on the AlterG treadmills during recovery. It’s widely chosen as a rehabilitating tool by many physical therapists. Many professional runners also use the AlterG treadmill to keep stress off their bodies, so they are less injury-prone.
You can run anywhere between 20% body weight and 100% body weight.
Here are just a few benefits with the antigravity treadmill for runners:
- AlterG Treadmills are great for physical therapy following an injury to a lower extremity (like the feet or legs)
- AlterG Treadmills can help prolong your running career by building leg strength without the full impact on your body.
- Antigravity treadmills create less stress on joints and muscles.
- Antigravity treadmills maintain and develop cardiovascular fitness while injured or away from sports.
- AlterG treadmills can improve mobility strength and safety.
- On an AlterG treadmill, you can run longer and recover faster with less pain.
- AlterG treadmills can help progress gradually and easily adjust your workout intensity.
- On an AlterG treadmill, you can safely change your running form without becoming more injury-prone.
- AlterG treadmills are safe for those with neurological conditions and neurologic patients.
- The Antigravity Treadmill is a safe way to lose weight and exercise for those who need something with less impact.
- AlterG treadmills allow you to walk or run on injuries with less pain (or none)
So What Exactly Happens on the AntiGravity Treadmill?
You put on a pair of specialty pants, step into the AlterG treadmill and allow the air pressure to calibrate to your body weight. The machine calibrates to a precise unweighting measurement. You can adjust to how much weight you would like to run there. You can run anywhere from 20% body weight to 100%.
Right now, I feel between 80 percent is a good number for me. After the machine calibrates, you just run. You can do anything that you do on a normal treadmill, including hills or speed. I have seen several local elite runners do workouts on it, and some people (like myself) prefer to Netflix and run.
So Why Have I Chosen to use the AlterG Treadmill This Summer?
It’s not a secret I’m injury prone. Due to my form, I stress my metatarsals more than the average person. When my training becomes inconsistent, I get injured. As I mentioned, since I am busy this summer, I can’t guarantee I’ll run consistently.
That isn’t because I don’t want to run but because I don’t have the time. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been out of the house from 6 am-7 pm. Sometimes I have a couple of empty hours in the middle of the day, but at that point, it’s 90+ degrees. I prefer to run inside anyway. It just makes the most sense right now to use the AlterG treadmill and not overly stress my body. I can train without pain and reduce impact. No pain and less impact is always the goal. We know running is a high impact sport, so there is no point to stress the body.
In case you missed Monday’s training log, I posted a short video about going through the process. (And yes, I do make random comments like that frequently)…
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Questions for you:
Have you ever used an AlterG treadmill?
What are your tips for getting workouts in while busy? (I could use some!)
I have never heard of these treadmills! I wish I would have though five years ago when I was recovering from an injury.
What kind of injury did you have?
Thanks for sharing! I have a minor injury right now, I might have to check one out in the Denver metro!
http://www.themilestraveled.com
This looks so cool!
I’m in the Haddonfield area and I am recovering from an IT issue. Would I be able to you the Anti-gravity treadmill?
Robin,
You would be able too. It is not my Alter-G, but the RunningCo. of Haddonfield! You can definitely give them a call or stop in to schedule a time slot there!
I tried this maybe 3 or 4 years ago when my knee was acting up and it was such a cool feeling! Unfortunately with this injury it made me want to over extend my leg, so it wasn’t great. I need to try it again though, so fun to make your legs fly
I did like 2 runs on the this in PT after my stress fracture but was really ready to move to the treadmill quickly. It was a really weird feeling but a cool piece of equipment. I have really long days all summer so I’ve been squeezing in short treadmill runs at night.
http://www.breathedeeplyandsmile.com
That’s awesome you have access to an Alter g! My chiro just sold his, which is bad timing as I”m trying to come back from injury and would have used it a lot. But I agree, it’s perfect for injury prone runners and to get those extra miles in without the impact.
My local sports chiro has an Alter-G in his office that he lets his patients run on, which is amazing! I’ve run on it a couple of times. It’s definitely an odd sensation at first, but I enjoyed running on it. I remember feeling super heavy on the regular treadmill after running on the Alter-G though! LOL.