Buzz
The concept of the 'anti-gravity treadmill' was first created by Robert Whalen, a biomechanics researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, in the 1990s.
Whalen recognized that astronauts aboard the International Space Station needed to exercise extensively to prevent the loss of muscle and bone mass in microgravity. Unfortunately, the treadmill on the ISS was far from ideal. Instead of relying on gravity, it uses straps around the astronaut's shoulders and hips to keep them anchored. This bungee system does not replicate the forces felt by runners on Earth, and running on it is uncomfortable. Astronaut Sunita Williams, the first person to run the Boston Marathon in space, shared her experience in a NASA press release: 'During the marathon, my foot occasionally went numb and tingled from the pressure of the straps on my hip. I also had to use moleskin to prevent the harness from rubbing my neck raw.'
Whalen designed a treadmill that allowed astronauts to run in a more natural manner. His design, patented in 1992, enclosed the treadmill and the astronaut's lower body in an airtight chamber. By reducing the air pressure inside the chamber, it simulates the pull of gravity. While the ISS treadmill only allowed Williams to run at 60 percent of her Earth weight, Whalen's treadmill would have allowed her to exercise at her full Earth weight. This was crucial for maintaining muscle and bone health during extended space missions.
However, Whalen's concept never took off. In 2005, the technology was licensed to a company named AlterG, which is credited with coining the term 'anti-gravity treadmill.' Instead of adding weight for astronauts in space, AlterG adapted the technology for use with patients recovering from leg and foot injuries by reducing their weight.
The AlterG device looks like a bouncy house for your lower body. To use it, you wear a pair of tight neoprene shorts with a skirt-like attachment lined with zipper teeth. Once you step onto the treadmill, you enter through a hole in its plastic casing and zip yourself in, trapping your lower body in an airtight plastic bag. The treadmill then measures your weight, and you set the intensity for your workout. The system uses 'unweighting technology' to make you feel as much as 80 percent lighter—so if you weigh 100 pounds, you might feel as light as 20 pounds. While the terms 'anti-gravity' and 'unweighting technology' are marketing-driven descriptions, the machine essentially inflates the plastic bag around your lower body, lifting you off the treadmill surface.
Despite the potentially exaggerated name, the anti-gravity treadmill has been beneficial in physical rehabilitation clinics, allowing patients to exercise without aggravating their injuries. Here's a glowing review from NASA about the anti-gravity treadmill:
AlterG treadmills are used by professional and college sports teams across the U.S. in their training facilities. Injured soldiers use the technology to walk and run in military hospitals and rehab centers. Seniors benefit from the support of the machine to get vital exercise, as do individuals with bariatric weight issues who struggle to support their own weight. The treadmill has also proven helpful in neurological rehabilitation, assisting patients in re-learning proper balance, gait, and transitioning to independent movement after traumatic brain injuries.
Several peer-reviewed studies also suggest that the treadmill plays a significant role in helping people recover and regain mobility.
A genuine anti-gravity machine—one that isn't influenced by gravity—would undoubtedly have thrilling possibilities, especially in the context of space travel. Sadly, for now at least, such devices remain confined to the realm of science fiction.
