Low Gravity Treadmill

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
I first saw it when reading a sports article. sounds pretty intesting

Bynum ran for 20 minutes on a new $75,000 treadmill that simulates low gravity situations. A player can run without the pounding he would normally experience on a regular treadmill or on the court, which gives his legs a break. Black said Bynum ran at 60-65 percent of his body weight.

quick link I found after

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/ar...gravity_treadmill.html

The Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill is just what the doctor ordered, and thankfully it has been approved by the FDA. This unique treadmill reduces the user's weight by up to 80% thanks to the built-in NASA-designed air pressure regulation system. In addition, the Alter-G also maintains user movement, enabling one to walk, run or jog is one chooses to without experiencing the pressure of the force used to hold one's weight. This won't be used in homes though as it will probably make its way to medical facilities and gyms instead.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
0
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
High gravity, low gravity, no gravity... the plane will STILL take off!

Not with a drastically lowered air pressure, it doesn't!
 

drinkmorejava

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,567
7
81
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
High gravity, low gravity, no gravity... the plane will STILL take off!

If there's no gravity, and thus no ground, how do you define taking off.
 

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
165
106
Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
High gravity, low gravity, no gravity... the plane will STILL take off!

If there's no gravity, and thus no ground, how do you define taking off.

the gaseous planets have no 'ground' yet has gravity. how do you explain that?
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
0
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
High gravity, low gravity, no gravity... the plane will STILL take off!

If there's no gravity, and thus no ground, how do you define taking off.

the gaseous planets have no 'ground' yet has gravity. how do you explain that?

Wait, you're telling me you can't walk on air?

Some lifer you are :p
 

LordMorpheus

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2002
6,871
1
0
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
High gravity, low gravity, no gravity... the plane will STILL take off!

If there's no gravity, and thus no ground, how do you define taking off.

the gaseous planets have no 'ground' yet has gravity. how do you explain that?

Also, the inside of a sphere has ground, and no gravity! Woaheaha!
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: sdifox
So, how is this better than elliptical again?

Or running in the pool for that matter

Someone undergoing physical therapy to walk again can start out with only 20% of their weight and work up to 100% in slow increments using natural movements.
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: sdifox
So, how is this better than elliptical again?

Or running in the pool for that matter

Because it allows them to increase the weight put on the legs without putting on the body weight being supported. Water will support 80% of your body weight. So for example when Bynum first started on this thing they had it supporting 65% of his body weight, then 60%. If his knee doesn't swell after that, they can start decreasing the amount of weight it is supporting to see how his knee responds without risking having him run at full body weight on the knee.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,439
17,944
126
Originally posted by: trmiv
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: sdifox
So, how is this better than elliptical again?

Or running in the pool for that matter

Because it allows them to increase the weight put on the legs without putting on the body weight being supported. Water will support 80% of your body weight. So for example when Bynum first started on this thing they had it supporting 65% of his body weight, then 60%. If his knee doesn't swell after that, they can start decreasing the amount of weight it is supporting to see how his knee responds without risking having him run at full body weight on the knee.

wouldn't you be able to do the same if you mess with the buoyancy of the liquid in a pool?
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: trmiv
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Originally posted by: sdifox
So, how is this better than elliptical again?

Or running in the pool for that matter

Because it allows them to increase the weight put on the legs without putting on the body weight being supported. Water will support 80% of your body weight. So for example when Bynum first started on this thing they had it supporting 65% of his body weight, then 60%. If his knee doesn't swell after that, they can start decreasing the amount of weight it is supporting to see how his knee responds without risking having him run at full body weight on the knee.

wouldn't you be able to do the same if you mess with the buoyancy of the liquid in a pool?

Running in water isn't really the same as running on land anyway, you also have the resistance of the water as your legs move through it. This lets them better simulate actual running without putting full stress on the knee.