Chronic pain can be a frustrating, self-perpetuating cycle: pain leads to altered movement, altered movement leads to compensation, and compensation reinforces the pain. At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, we help patients break this pain cycle using two transformative tools—the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill and real-time gait feedback.
Together, they offer a breakthrough approach to reduce pain, restore movement, and rebuild confidence.
The Vicious Cycle of Chronic Pain
Patients with long-standing musculoskeletal issues often struggle with movement avoidance or guarded mechanics. Their brain instinctively limits or alters motion to avoid pain, leading to poor motor patterns and increased joint or tissue stress elsewhere.
This cycle is common in conditions such as:
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Chronic knee, hip, or low back pain
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Post-surgical pain
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Tendinopathies (Achilles, patellar, gluteal)
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Degenerative joint disease
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Stress fractures and overuse injuries
To improve outcomes, we must first interrupt the loop—and that begins with controlled movement without pain.
Step 1: Load Control with the AlterG
The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill offloads a percentage of a patient’s body weight using differential air pressure, allowing them to walk or run in a pain-free or reduced-pain state.
This unloading:
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Decreases compressive forces on joints
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Enables earlier and safer movement
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Restores range of motion and stride symmetry
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Improves confidence with weight-bearing
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Rebuilds neuromuscular control with less discomfort
We can dial in the exact percentage of body weight that allows for pain-free activity—and gradually increase load as the patient improves.
Step 2: Real-Time and Slow-Motion Video Gait Feedback
While unweighting removes the pain barrier, video feedback removes the guesswork.
High-definition video and slow-motion playback allow both patients and clinicians to observe the quality of movement—not just the quantity. Subtle gait deviations like:
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Pelvic drop
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Overstriding
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Poor push-off
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Uneven cadence or limb loading
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Trunk sway or core instability
can be immediately visualized, coached, and corrected. This feedback loop enhances learning and accelerates the retraining of proper biomechanics.
Movement Is Medicine—When Done Right
When patients can move freely, comfortably, and accurately, we unlock the therapeutic power of exercise without flaring their symptoms. This is especially important for patients who have struggled with traditional rehab or failed to progress due to pain limitations.
Combining load control with visual feedback creates a safe, supportive environment to:
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Normalize walking or running patterns
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Improve gait efficiency and joint loading
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Reduce pain with each session
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Build long-term movement confidence
Ready to Break Your Pain Cycle?
If you’ve hit a plateau or feel stuck in chronic pain, it’s time to try a new approach. Our team at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey uses cutting-edge tools to help you move better, feel better, and return to the activities you love.
Contact Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. today to schedule your gait analysis and AlterG session. Book online or call us directly!
