Recover Smarter. Return Stronger.
At Releaf Physio, we are proud to offer the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill as part of our advanced rehabilitation service in Newcastle upon Tyne. This specialist treadmill uses bodyweight support technology to reduce the load going through your joints and muscles, allowing you to walk, jog, or run with less pain and more confidence during recovery.
Whether you are returning from injury, surgery, or struggling with persistent pain, the AlterG can help you move earlier, safer, and with better control.
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What is the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill?
The AlterG is a specialist treadmill that uses air pressure technology to gently support your body weight while you exercise. By unweighting the body, it can reduce the impact through the hips, knees, ankles, and feet, making movement more comfortable and manageable.
This means you can exercise at a lower percentage of your body weight, helping you maintain movement and rebuild confidence without placing too much stress on healing tissues.
It is particularly useful for people who are unable to tolerate full weight-bearing exercise on a normal treadmill, but still want to keep moving and progressing.
How does it work?
You wear specialist shorts that zip into the treadmill chamber, which then creates a controlled lifting force around the lower body. This allows us to reduce your effective body weight in small, precise increments.
For example, you may be able to walk or run at 80%, 60%, or even less of your body weight, depending on your injury, symptoms, and stage of rehabilitation.
This gives our physiotherapists the ability to carefully control load, monitor your response, and progress exercise in a much more accurate way.
Benefits of the AlterG Treadmill
Who can benefit from the AlterG?
The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be useful for a wide range of injuries and rehabilitation goals, including:
- Running injuries
- Knee pain
- Achilles pain
- Calf strains
- Ankle injuries
- Stress reactions or bone stress injuries
- Hip pain
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Return to sport rehabilitation
- Lower limb tendon or muscle injuries
- Individuals who are deconditioned or unable to tolerate full weight-bearing exercise
It can also be a valuable option for those who want to stay active while managing ongoing pain or recovering from a flare-up.
AlterG for runners
The AlterG is particularly popular with runners who want to maintain fitness and return to training safely after injury. It allows us to create a graded running plan based on your symptoms, fitness level, and stage of recovery.
Instead of going straight from rest to full running, we can use the AlterG to gradually reintroduce impact and load in a way that feels more manageable. This often makes the transition back to outdoor running smoother and more confident.
AlterG after surgery
Following surgery, it is often important to restore walking, strength, and confidence without overloading healing tissue too early. The AlterG can be an excellent way to reintroduce lower limb exercise in a controlled and progressive way.
Used alongside a structured physiotherapy plan, it can support recovery after a range of orthopaedic procedures where weight-bearing tolerance is limited
Why choose Releaf Physio for AlterG rehab?
At Releaf Physio, the AlterG is not used as a standalone treatment. It is part of a wider rehabilitation approach built around your goals, symptoms, and recovery timeline.
Our physiotherapists combine hands-on assessment, strength-based rehab, movement analysis, and progressive loading to make sure your treatment is both personalised and effective. The AlterG simply gives us another advanced tool to help you progress safely and efficiently.
What to expect from an AlterG session
Your session will begin with an assessment of your current symptoms, movement, and goals. We will then set the treadmill to the appropriate level of bodyweight support and guide you through walking, jogging, or running depending on your stage of rehab.
We can adjust speed, incline, and bodyweight support throughout the session to make sure the exercise is well tolerated and effective.
Sessions can be used as part of an ongoing physiotherapy plan or as a focused tool to help with return to running and lower limb rehabilitation.
Is the AlterG right for me?
If you are struggling to walk, jog, or run due to pain, injury, or post-operative limitations, the AlterG may be a very useful part of your recovery.
It is especially beneficial if you:
- cannot yet tolerate normal treadmill or outdoor running
- want to maintain fitness while recovering
- need a graded return to running plan
- are recovering from a lower limb injury or surgery
- want a more controlled way to rebuild load and confidence
If you are unsure whether it is suitable for you, our team can assess you and advise on the best approach.
AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for an AlterG session?
We recommend wearing comfortable exercise clothing such as a T-shirt and shorts or leggings. You will also need trainers suitable for walking or running. Special AlterG shorts are worn during the session, which we will provide at the clinic.
Can I use the AlterG without a physiotherapy assessment?
In most cases, we recommend starting with a physiotherapy assessment so we can understand your injury, goals, and current level of function. This allows us to make sure the AlterG is appropriate for you and that it is used in the most effective and safe way possible.
Is the AlterG suitable after surgery?
Yes, the AlterG can be a very useful tool after surgery, particularly when a gradual return to walking, jogging, or weight-bearing exercise is needed. It allows us to reduce the load through the lower limbs and progress activity in a controlled way. Suitability will depend on the type of surgery and stage of recovery, so we would always assess this first.
Can beginners use the AlterG or is it just for runners?
The AlterG is not just for runners. It can be used by a wide range of people, including beginners, those recovering from injury or surgery, and anyone who finds full weight-bearing exercise uncomfortable. It is a great option for rebuilding confidence, improving walking tolerance, and progressing exercise safely.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions needed will depend on your injury, symptoms, goals, and stage of recovery. Some people use the AlterG for a short period to bridge the gap back to normal training, while others benefit from a longer course as part of a structured rehabilitation plan. Your physiotherapist will guide you on what is most appropriate for you.
Does it help with knee, ankle or Achilles pain?
Yes, the AlterG can be very helpful for conditions affecting the knee, ankle, or Achilles, especially when full bodyweight walking or running is painful. By reducing load, it allows you to keep moving and exercising with less discomfort while still progressing your rehabilitation in a controlled way.
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