THE ANTI-GRAVITY RUNNING MACHINE

Gym sessions may be about to get a little bit easier thanks to the invention of an ANTI-GRAVITY treadmill.

The G-Trainer is a running machine which uses a compressed air chamber to lift and reduce the weight of its user by up to 80%.

Users simply zip themselves into the air-tight running area and select a personalised running program from the computer screen in front of them.

The machine's "air pressure regulation system" can be then be adjusted by the runner to set body weight as low as 20% in a process known as "unweighting".

The G-Trainer uses anti-grav technology originally developed by NASA, which allows the user to run with a natural gait

At the maximum air pressure, the experience is said to be similar to as if you were standing in waist-high water.

Californian-based fitness technology company Alter G says the G-Trainer should help people to improve mobility and health, recover from injury and surgery more effectively, overcome medical challenges that limit movement, and enhance physical performance.

But the G-Trainer isn't just science fiction, it has recently been classified as a medical advice by the FDA (the US health authority).

"Physical therapy clinics have told us their patients are recovering faster from lower extremity injuries and have overall less costs for rehab," says company spokesperson Christine Fife. "Many pro athletes have reported to us that they see measurable increases to their performance goals when they add the G-Trainer to their workout programs. They're able to use it and train through injuries because they just reduce their body weight so that their injury isn't inflamed and continues to heal but they still get the workout."

Shalane Flanagan, USA Outdoor 5000M Champion, says the G-Trainer helped her recover after surgery to remove a bone in her foot. “The G-Trainer has been a valuable tool in my training,” said Flanagan. “It has allowed me to continue training while recovering from injury and reach new personal records.”

"I believe the G-Trainer will become the standard in rehabilitation and training," said Dr. Amol Saxena, podiatric surgeon at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

The current model is US$75000 and can be leased, although the company will soon be introducing a lower priced version.

MUST CREDIT PICTURES BY REX FEATURES
Credit Story By Dean Murray