How the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill Helps Runners Stay Active During Injury
Dr. Jake Ogden, PT, DPT
3 min read
How the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill Helps Runners Stay Active During Injury
Running through pain is rarely the right answer—but stopping completely isn’t always necessary either.
For many runners dealing with injury, the challenge is not just recovery—it’s figuring out how to stay active without making the problem worse. This is where the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be a powerful tool in the rehabilitation process.
Used as part of a structured return-to-running plan, the AlterG allows runners to maintain movement and fitness while significantly reducing stress on the body.
What Is the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill?
The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill is a specialized treadmill that uses air pressure technology to reduce the amount of bodyweight placed through your legs while running.
In simple terms, it allows you to run at a reduced bodyweight percentage, decreasing impact forces while still maintaining a normal running pattern.
This means you can:
Run with less load on injured tissues
Maintain your natural running mechanics
Gradually progress back to full-weight running in a controlled way
Unlike cycling or swimming, the AlterG allows you to continue running-specific training while reducing stress on healing structures.
Key Benefits of the AlterG for Runners
The AlterG is especially useful in running injury rehab and return-to-running programs because it bridges the gap between rest and full running.
Reduce impact and joint stress while running
By lowering bodyweight, the AlterG significantly reduces force through the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine.
Maintain cardiovascular fitness during injury recovery
You can continue running while minimizing aggravation to injured tissues, helping preserve endurance and aerobic conditioning.
Gradually return to running after injury
The ability to precisely adjust bodyweight allows for a controlled, step-by-step return to full running.
Continue training with less pain or irritation
Many runners can stay active without flaring up symptoms that occur during full-weight running.
Increase running volume with reduced load
You can maintain or build mileage in a safer environment while tissues recover.
Improve confidence returning to full running
Rebuilding trust in your body is a major part of recovery, and the AlterG helps bridge that mental gap.
Common Running Injuries the AlterG Can Help With
The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill is commonly used as part of rehab for a variety of running-related injuries, including:
Stress reactions and stress fractures
Bone stress injuries
Achilles tendinopathy
Plantar fasciitis
Runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome)
Shin splints
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Hip pain or low back pain
Overuse injuries related to increased training load
In many of these cases, runners are not required to fully stop running—they simply need a way to reduce load while maintaining movement quality.
How the AlterG Fits Into Return-to-Running Rehab
The AlterG is most effective when used as part of a structured rehabilitation plan—not as a stand-alone solution.
A typical progression may include:
Early-stage recovery with reduced weight-bearing running
Gradual increases in bodyweight percentage over time
Transition back to full-weight treadmill running
Progression to outdoor running when tolerated
This approach allows tissues to adapt gradually, reducing the risk of re-injury while maintaining running-specific fitness.
For runners who are not currently participating in formal physical therapy, stand-alone AlterG sessions are also available. Additional information regarding scheduling and pricing is provided at the bottom of this article.
Who Benefits Most From the AlterG?
The AlterG is especially helpful for runners who are:
Recovering from a running-related injury
Returning to running after time off
Managing flare-ups during a training cycle
Unable to tolerate full-weight running yet
Trying to maintain fitness while reducing impact stress
Working through a structured return-to-run program
It is commonly used during both early rehabilitation and later-stage performance training.
Why the AlterG Is Different From Other Training Options
While cross-training options like cycling or swimming help maintain fitness, they do not replicate the mechanics of running.
The AlterG is different because it allows you to:
Keep running-specific movement patterns
Maintain neuromuscular coordination
Reduce load without needing to cross train
Rebuild confidence in running gradually
This makes it one of the most effective tools for maintaining running fitness during injury recovery.
Final Thoughts
Injury does not always mean full rest—and training through pain is not the answer either.
The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill provides a middle ground: a way to stay active, maintain fitness, and continue running while giving injured tissues the reduced load they need to recover.
When integrated into a structured rehab plan, it can help runners return to full training with greater confidence, control, and long-term durability.
AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill in Mission Viejo, CA
We offer AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill sessions at our OrthoSport OC Physical Therapy clinic in Mission Viejo, CA, serving runners and active individuals throughout Orange County.
The AlterG may be incorporated into physical therapy treatment or used as a stand-alone service for individuals recovering from injury, returning to running, or looking to reduce impact while maintaining fitness.
Pricing
$25 initiation fee
$1 per minute of treadmill use
To schedule an AlterG session or learn whether it may be appropriate for your situation, call us at 949-582-2555.
bASED IN ORANGE
COUNTY, CALIFORNIA