Technology designed to help astronauts maintain muscle and bone mass in space has been adapted here on Earth into a treadmill that helps people get back on their feet. It uses air pressure as a kind of "anti-gravity" to lighten the load so professional athletes from NBA players to Olympians can recover faster after an injury. It also helps regular patients learn to walk again after major surgery or injuries.
On Earth, gravity can cause a lot of stress to a person’s bones and muscles — which is actually a good thing. In the microgravity environment of space, astronauts' bones and muscles start to atrophy as their bodies adjust to weightlessness. A specially designed treadmill helps counteract the problem by pulling the astronaut to the running surface. It is equipped with a harness that uses air pressure to mimic the force of gravity.
Learn more about how NASA helped develop technology that impacts "anti-gravity" treadmill within your city's medical environment!