The Anti-Gravity Treadmill was invented by NASA because astronauts on the International Space Station have to exercise for hours each day to combat the loss of bone mass and muscle in microgravity. The design encloses a treadmill and the astronaut’s lower body in an airtight chamber. Lowering the air pressure inside the chamber pushes the astronaut down, simulating gravity. That’s important for keeping the muscles and bones healthy for when astronauts get home.
In 2005, the technology was licensed to a company called AlterG, which appears to have coined the term “anti-gravity treadmill.” Instead of adding weight to astronauts in space, AlterG uses the technology to take the weight off of rehab patients recovering from leg and foot injuries.
The product looks like a bounce house for your lower body. When you get in the treadmill measures your weight, and you tell it how intense you want your workout to be. The anti-gravity treadmill seems is benefiting people in physical rehab clinics, because it allows patients to exercise without exacerbating an injury.