Sports Treadmill Clinical Research
Clincal Summary
At AlterG, we are committed to proper scientific investigation of the potential clinical and athletic performance benefits of using our device. Please click the link below to find a summary of our clinical research.
Case Studies
Below are links to clinical case studies written by physical therapists and athletic trainers who have experience using the AlterG. These medical professionals have provided data and insights on how they were able to help their athletes and patients recover from a variety of injuries or surgical conditions utilizing AlterG’s partial weight bearing technology.
- ACL Allograft Reconstruction/ ?
Anna Hartman, MS, ATC, CSCS
19 y/o female NCAA D1 soccer player with ACL Allograft Reconstruction.Sport is played on turf, requires constant running and frequent change of direction.
- ACL and Medial Meniscus Tear, Nonsurgical Intervention/ ?
Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
26 y/o female BMX Cyclist sustained an ACL and medial meniscal tear during sport activity. BMX cycling is a dynamic sport, including explosive bouts of cycling, jumps and turns.
- ACL Reconstruction and Microfracture/ ?
Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
19 y/o female Snowboard athlete sustained an ACL tear and medial and lateral meniscal tear during sport activity. Boarder Cross snowboard is a dynamic sport, including explosive bouts of snowboarding, jumps and turns.
- Below Knee Amputation (BKA)/ ?
Renee Wenger, MPT, CLT, MBA and Lisa Sibits, MPT
Patient is a 71 y/o male s/p L BKA who presented to OP PT five months after his amputation.
- Bilateral Compartment Release/ ?
David Nissenbaum MPT, MA, LAT
23 y/o college senior underwent elective bilateral anterior/lateral compartment releases due to exertional compartment syndrome.
- Bilateral Hip Resurfacing/ ?
Nicole Archambault, DPT and Jennifer Shaw, DPT
39 y/o male with a life long history of bilateral hip dysplasia with progressive OA bilateral hips
- Cerebrovascular Accident / THA/ ?
Renee Wenger, MPT, CLT, MBA and Lisa Sibits, MPT
Patient is a 65 y/o male who presented to outpatient PT for this episode of care seven weeks s/p R THA (9/21/2010).
- Chronic Patellofemoral Pain/ ?
Nicole Archambault, DPT
12 y/o female competitive cheerleader with history of bilateral knee pain. Running, jumping, tumbling, flips and squats aggravate the patient's symptoms.
- Femoral Fracture: Intramedullary Rod/ ?
Allison Granot, MPT
51 y/o active male, s/p intramedullary rod for Left femur with proxial and distal locking screws. Injury sustained while patient was playing softball September 2009.
- Fibula Stress Fracture/ ?
Alison E. Barker, PT
16 y/o male, cross country runner sustained a fibular stress fracture 4 weeks ago. He runs 55miles/week.
- Hip FAI Arthroscopy/ ?
Tamara Johann Moreno, MS, DPT, COMT, ATC
19 y/o female college field athlete with a 1-2 year history of bilateral hip pain, not resolved with conservative treatment. Left hip arthroscopy approximately 6 weeks after right hip arthroscopy, each with labral repair.
- Hip Labrum Repair and Microfracture/ ?
Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
25 y/o male visually impaired sprinter, diagnosed with a superior anterior labrum tear. Running is a repetitive activity, sprinting is an explosive and high impact activity.
- Lateral Ankle Reconstruction/ ?
Matt Kraemer PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS
A 31 y/o male endurance athlete (triathlete/ marathoner) was treated post-operatively for right ATF and CF reconstruction, peroneus longus repair, anterior TCJ debridement and removal of a loose body in the medial gutter.
- Lumbar Herniated Disk/ ?
Martin D. Hoffman, MD, FACSM
The patient was a 52-year-old physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and ultramarathon runner.
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)/ ?
Greg Kurcharski, PT, DPT
The patient is a 67 year old female with long standing history of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). She presents with moderate balance deficits, staggering and loss of balance during ambulation, difficulty negotiating stairs, and a history of falls.
- Partial Meniscectomy/ ?
Monique Werner, PT, OCS
56 y/o active female with a long history of knee problems, mostly her right knee. An MRI found her right knee had a medial meniscus tear, underlying arthrosis and a peri-meniscal cyst.
- Plantar Fascia Tear/ ?
Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
25 y/o female Field Hockey with Plantar Fascia tear, sesamoid fx and entrapped nerve. Sport is played on artificial turf, requires constant running and frequent change of direction.
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis/ ?
Alison E. Barker, PT
14 year old active teenager was playing basketball in February and injured his left hip. Initially it was treated as a groin strain, but later it was determined that he had a slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
- Stress Fracture - 3rd Metatarsal/ ?
Dathan Ritzenhein's AlterG Experience
The biography of any distance runner can as easily be told through the timeline of their injuries as through their great races. Dathan Ritzenhein is no exception. Dathan's “career†started early; at the age of 10 he cycled with his dad's running club and by junior high he had traded in his wheels for a freshly sprouted set of legs that were being developed by daily 4 mile time trials. Two national wins during Dathan's high school competition made it clear he was no ordinary runner. His first year college performance was top of the class on any timed course. Dathan was maturing early, and with his success injuries began to occur. By his second year of college he had endured stress fractures in each femur and junior year a stress fracture in his foot ruined his performance in the Olympic trials. The injury dashed his Olympic hopes that year when he had to drop from the 10,000 meter race to attend to his foot.
- Stress Fracture - 4th Metatarsal/ ?
Vinny Comiskey, MA, ATC, CSCS
24 y/o female Field Hockey player with healed Plantar fascia tear, sesamoid fx and entrapped nerve. Sport is played on artificial turf, requires constant running and frequent change of direction.
- Total Hip Arthroplasty/ ?
Nicole Archambault, DPT
66 y/o female with long history of DJD and scoliosis of the lumbar spine with two failed laminectomies at L4 and L5 in 2004 and 2005.
- Total Knee Arthroplasty/ ?
Caroline B. Palmer, MSPT, OCS, CSCS
65 y/o active female with long history of left knee pain from osteoarthritis that was progressively becoming worse and limiting her activity level. She underwent elective left total knee arthroplasty.
- Total Knee Arthroplasty #2/ ?
Kristin Tyse Shadduck, PT
The patient is a 60 year old male with long history of R knee pain. He has had prior arthroscopy on the R knee some years ago. He is active, enjoys playing golf and has his own construction business.
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)/ ?
Karen Shuler, PT, DPT, Lifestyle Physical Therapy, Lake Wylie, SC
The patient is a 93 y.o. male who experienced a TIA 2 weeks ago. He presents with moderate balance deficits, difficulty with ambulation on even and uneven terrain, gait deviations, difficulty negotiating stairs, and he is unable to drive.
- Treadmill Rehabilitation Study for Total Hip Arthroplasty/ ?
David Nissenbaum, MPT, MA, LAT
72-year-old active female with long history of DJD to lumbar spine and most recently to her right hip. She underwent elective right total hip arthroplasty.
- Unicompartmental Knee Replacement/ ?
David Nissenbaum, MPT, MA, LAT
69-year-old active male with long history of DJD to the medial compartment of his right knee underwent elective right knee unicompartmental replacement.
- Walking Program for Obesity/ ?
Dr. Shawn Simonson, Ed.D, Jane Shimon, Ed.D, Elaine Long, Ph.D., R.D., Brooke Lester, B.S.
Pilot study conducted with one super obese (BMI: 69.2) 44 y/o female utilizing the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill during a 14 week walking program
Clinical Guidelines
Summary Of Clinical Research Involving The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill® by Nancy Byl, PhD, PT
Foot
The foundation of the body in standing and walking, pain or injuries to the foot can lead to problems up the kinetic chain to the knees, hips, and even spine. The AlterG's Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology can help decrease or eliminate pain and prevent compensatory motions, by precisely reducing weight through the foot, in standing and at heel strike. The ability to encourage and maintain these normal mechanics makes the AlterG the perfect tool for gait training at any level.
Ankle
One of the most commonly injured joints by athletes and non-athletes alike, ankle problems affect the ability to stand and walk without pain. Using the AlterG's precise partial weight bearing in rehab can help make standing activities more comfortable for these patients, while protecting healing tissue. Earlier incorporation of closed-chain activities allow patients to restore strength and proprioception more quickly, enabling return to a normal gait and running pattern sooner.
Case Studies
Knee
The knee is particularly vulnerable to both acute injury and arthritis because of its load-bearing role and functional requirements. Use of the AlterG can decrease impact at the knee joint, reduce pain and restore gait mechanics for a variety of knee conditions. The AlterG's progressive loading helps speed recovery for knee injuries and return users to the activities they love.
Case Studies
- ACL Allograft Reconstruction
- ACL and Medial Meniscus Tear, Nonsurgical Intervention
- ACL Reconstruction and Microfracture
- Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
- Chronic Patellofemoral Pain
- Non-surgical Knee Osteoarthritis
- Partial Meniscectomy
- Total Knee Arthroplasty
- Total Knee Arthroplasty #2
- Unicompartmental Knee Replacement
Leg
Important in absorbing impact and propelling the body forward in walking and running, the lower leg has to deal with a lot of stresses making it susceptible to overuse injuries. Decreased ground impact forces make the AlterG both a great recovery modality and a fantastic training tool. By allowing increased walking/running volume without the same stresses to the musculoskeletal system, the AlterG will allow you to gain all the benefits of exercise, without all of the pain.
Hip
One of the largest and strongest joints in the body and a key component in balance, problems at the hip can significantly impact static and dynamic stability and posture. By using AlterG's unique progressive loading technology, pain can be reduced and strength improved, so the hip can play its primary role of supporting the body's weight and providing a stable foundation for movement.
Thigh
Injuries to some of the largest bones and muscles in the body, like the femur, quads, and hamstrings, can significantly impact function and quality of life. The AlterG can help restore motion, strength, and confidence for these users, allowing them to spend less time thinking about their injury and more time focusing on the things they want to do.
Case Studies
Obesity
AlterG's unweighting technology provides a wonderful motivational tool for users by giving them the feeling of what it would be to achieve their target body weight. With less stress to their lower body, these users encounter less pain, enabling greater success with their weight programs. Defy gravity with the AlterG and take your health and your body to new levels.
Case Studies
Cardiovascular
AlterG's comfortable unweighting technology through air pressure allows for safe and precise progression of conditioning and endurance programs. With the benefit of body weight support, deconditioned patients can start walking at easier levels immediately, enabling them to start their journey to a healthier tomorrow.
Case Studies
Spine
Low back pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced and almost everyone at some point will have it interfere with work or play. One of the major contributors to this problem is the sedentary nature of most jobs and careers in our age of technology. The ability to decrease ground impact forces with walking and running in the AlterG can help encourage activity while minimizing stress to the spine. The result is a healthier, stronger back and happier, pain-free living.
Case Studies
Neurological
The ability to tap into the plasticity of the brain and encourage motor learning is the key to any neurological rehabilitation program. The AlterG's unique unweighting technology takes Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training to new levels. Enabling neurological patients to work longer and more comfortably, the result of neurological rehabilitation with the AlterG is greater progress when practicing skills needed for standing and walking.
