Anti-Gravity Treadmill At Parc Eirias High Performance Gym Has Been Funded

State of the art gym equipment will help the rehabilitation of pre and post-operation patients, those with serious sports injuries and armed forces veterans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The anti-gravity treadmill at Parc Eirias High Performance Gym has been funded by a partnership between Conwy County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Alter G Anti-Gravity Treadmill was launched at Parc Eirias to help those with musculoskeletal conditions and serious injuries regain their mobility, develop strength and improve fitness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The advantage of the equipment is that it allows users to work on their mobility and natural movement without putting stress on an injured or recovering limb. For athletes and armed forces veterans alike, this means faster healing, reduced risk of injury and less pain when recovering. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jason Palmer, 41, is a volunteer with Conwy’s Community Covenant. The aim of the Covenant is to encourage communities to support the Armed Forces community and veterans in their area and promote understanding and awareness. Jason served with The 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment between 2009 and 2015, but was injured in Afghanistan in 2010 when his spine was fractured in three different places. Jason, who lives in Rhos-on-Sea, used a similar machine as part of his recovery at the Defence Medical Centre in Headley, Surrey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jason said: “It is a fantastic piece of equipment, without the equipment I would not be able to function and more than likely I would be in a wheelchair. This machine allowed me to function as normal as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was left with no feeling in my legs, I had damage to the muscles and nerves, and damage to my spinal cord. The machine allowed me to get my balance sorted and learn how to walk again. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The machine is an absolutely fantastic addition to the health and wellbeing of the community throughout Conwy. The machine can be used for a multitude of different factors for rehabilitation and health care.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Alter G can be used by trained physical therapists as a precise way to track progress for those with hip, knee, ankle or foot injuries. The anti-gravity treadmill can also be used to help people after joint replacements; in gait training for neurological patients; strengthening and conditioning in a safe environment for older patients; weight-loss programmes and injury prevention during sport specific conditioning and fitness improvement programmes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Conwy’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Liz Roberts, said she was delighted the machine had been installed at Eirias Park and hoped the machine would be of a huge benefit to the community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many people, especially armed forces veterans, suffer serious injuries which can be life changing,” she said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This machine will help those who are yet to gain enough strength in their limbs to use conventional equipment. Not only does the anti-gravity treadmill offer rehabilitation with less pain, but it means less risk of injury. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I think this piece of equipment is something which will enhance the lives of many people from different walks of life in Conwy who are recovering from a serious injury or condition, or who are preparing for surgery.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Alter G Machine can be hired for £15 for half an hour, or is free to use for patients with health professionals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​