Astronauts who spend long stretches in zero-G lose both weight and bone density. Seeking to counter this, a NASA engineer developed a Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology; this was a pressurized air chamber that simulated gravitational load, and the idea was that astronauts could exercise within it.

As with a lot of NASA tech, an earthly application emerged. A company called AlterG saw that DAP would be useful for rehabilitative therapy down here. Thus they literally reverse-engineered the system to create an anti-gravity treadmill.

When AlterG sought to expand their product line, they contacted industrial design and engineering firm Mighty Studios.

"AlterG's treadmills use a patented process called Differential Air Pressure (DAP)," explains Mighty Studios. "Using a pressurized air chamber to uniformly reduce gravitational load and body weight, AlterG enables patients and athletes to move unrestricted and pain-free – restoring and building muscle strength, range of motion, balance, function, and fitness. 

"Historically, their treadmills were sold to high-end clinics and professional sports training facilities. But new markets were opening up, and AlterG needed an accessible, low-cost, lightweight unit that would cater to the growing number of smaller therapy clinics nationwide."

"Mighty Studios completely re-imagined the entire system, ultimately called the Fit Series, by redesigning all the major subsystems to reduce cost, decrease complexity and improve patient access. Additionally, Mighty Studios introduced new overseas suppliers who were able to meet the manufacturing costs. The improvements led to a streamlined assembly process and a 50% reduction in the Bill of Materials (BOM)."

"The early prototype systems performed so well in user testing, that AlterG made this design the platform upon which all future systems would be built. Soon after this successful system redesign, AlterG asked Mighty Studios to develop the mid-range offering, called the Via Series. Additionally, the work resulted in numerous patents, which adds to AlterG's reputation as an innovative manufacturer committed to its customers."

Here's how it works:

Enter a caption (optional)