From Rehab to Peak Performance: Using the AlterG Treadmill to Improve Running Form

The journey from injury recovery to peak performance requires more than just healing—it demands retraining how you move. At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, we help runners rebuild better by using the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill to refine and correct running mechanics.

This NASA-inspired technology isn’t just for rehab—it’s a game-changer for healthy runners looking to improve form, prevent injury, and unlock new performance potential.

The Problem: Compensations and Faulty Mechanics

Whether due to old injuries, muscle imbalances, or poor habits, many runners develop subtle gait flaws that rob them of efficiency and expose them to overuse injuries. Common issues include:

• Overstriding – landing too far in front of the body, increasing braking forces

• Pelvic drop – poor hip control, often from weak glutes

• Low cadence – taking fewer steps per minute, increasing impact per stride

These faults are hard to fix on the road or a standard treadmill—especially if pain or fatigue are masking the problem.

The AlterG Advantage: A Controlled Environment for Real-Time Correction

The AlterG treadmill creates an unweighted environment, reducing bodyweight by up to 80%. This minimizes joint stress and pain, allowing runners to move more freely and focus on form rather than discomfort.

When paired with real-time cueing and video gait analysis, it becomes the perfect teaching tool to:

• Correct overstriding by increasing cadence and improving landing position
• Stabilize the pelvis by reinforcing glute engagement and core control
• Improve posture and foot strike without the noise of pain or fatigue

Runners can safely repeat form drills and integrate corrections without risk of overload—accelerating neuromuscular learning.

Example: Fixing Overstriding

A runner recovering from a hamstring strain may show consistent overstriding at full bodyweight due to subconscious guarding. On the AlterG at 75% bodyweight, they can relax into a shorter stride, land closer to their center of mass, and begin retraining cadence.

With coaching and video feedback, these improvements become intentional and repeatable—and can be transitioned to ground running over time.

From Injury Recovery to Performance Refinement

The AlterG isn’t just for post-op patients or injured athletes. We use it to help:

• Novice runners establish proper technique

• Triathletes improve running efficiency under fatigue

• Postpartum runners regain pelvic control

• Masters athletes reduce impact while working on form

• Competitive runners tune mechanics in a safe, repeatable space

It’s a bridge between rehab and performance—where strength, coordination, and form come together.

Take the Next Step with Better Form

If you’re looking to run stronger, longer, and with less risk of injury, let us help you optimize your stride on the AlterG. Whether you’re coming back from a setback or pushing toward a new PR, form matters—and the AlterG is the ideal tool to get it right.

Schedule your gait analysis and AlterG session at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Book online or call us today to take your next stride forward.

Author

Peter Wenger, MD Peter C. Wenger, MD, is an orthopedic and non-operative sports injury specialist at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He is board certified in both family medicine and sports medicine. Dr. Wenger brings a unique approach to sports medicine care with his comprehensive understanding of family medicine, sports medicine, and surgery. As a multisport athlete himself, he understands a patient’s desire to safely return to their sport.