Date Posted: 18th February 2020
Whether you have an injury or you're an in-patient receiving post-operative treatment, we offer personalised exercise and rehabilitation programmes at our centre for physiotherapy.
Our multi-disciplinary physiotherapy team will ensure that you receive the best treatment and advice possible.
We have some of the latest high-tech equipment available as part of the rehabilitation programme - this includes the world’s premier Anti-GravityTreadmill, manufactured by AlterG and engineered by NASA.
AlterG’s Anti-Gravity Treadmill is a life-changing piece of technology that allows users to exercise despite having impaired mobility as a result of injury, joint arthritis or following surgery.
Whether you are recovering from lower-limb, spinal or any neurological condition, our rehabilitation clinic is a great place to start your recovery.
The Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used for:
- Rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries
- Accelerating recovery after surgery e.g. following knee replacement
- Treatment of neurological conditions e.g. following a stroke
- Training to combat diseases of ageing
- Pain management e.g. fibromyalgia
- Weight reduction
- Aerobic conditioning
AlterG uses air in the pressure-controlled chamber to gently lift the user.
For many people who use the treadmill, this is the first time they’ve been able to walk again without the use of walking aids following an accident or illness.
It also provides real solutions for people who want to lose weight but struggle with exercise because of joint pain; as well as for those who are already active but want extra assistance to improve their fitness.
Once the user steps into the treadmill, the sealed chamber inflates around their waist. Through adjusting the air pressure in the chamber, the clinician can then select a percentage of bodyweight to take off the patient, effectively supporting them at the waist, creating a safe and pain-free environment to work on their physiotherapy or exercise sessions.
The ability to exercise without the full burden of gravity on lower limbs allows users to move with no pain, with significantly reduced force and impact on ankles, knees, hips and lower back; allowing patients to get moving a lot quicker than would have otherwise been possible and speeding up rehabilitation.
Speaking about the importance of AlterG, St Joseph’s Hospital Clinical Director of Physiotherapy, Troy Wilson, said; “I’ve previously used this impressive piece of kit with patients and athletes, so when I moved to St Joseph’s I was keen for the hospital to invest in one. I have seen first-hand the difference it makes to peoples’ rehabilitation and the significantly increased speed of recovery.
“Following surgery, it is best practice to get patients mobile as soon as possible and with this treadmill, patients can start moving almost straight away at reduced body weight. It is the reduced bodyweight that also makes this such a great a form of exercise for those who have suffered joint pain when trying to exercise previously and are looking to significantly reduce their weight to improve general health and fitness.
“The anti-gravity effect means the joints only take a small amount of pressure while the muscles are kept active and strong. It is an excellent choice for people suffering from lower limb joint pain or injuries such as ligament or cartilage damage, acute and chronic tendon problems such as Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, as well as a range of post-operative surgeries from the foot to the spine, including knee and hip replacement surgery.
“It’s great to see people, after years of suffering, being able to walk and run for the first time pain-free.”
We have a dedicated physiotherapy centre at St Joseph's Hospital offering advanced physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The expert medical team offer patients and the general public the latest treatments and therapies utilising state-of-the-art technology.
To discover more visit our physiotherapy centre.