From Rehab to Real World: Using AlterG and Video Feedback to Retrain Gait After Injury or Surgery

Recovering from injury or surgery is more than just healing tissue—it’s about restoring confidence, coordination, and control. At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, we use two powerful technologies—the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill and video gait feedback—to bridge the gap between rehab and real-world movement.

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

When an athlete or active individual returns from surgery or significant injury, the nervous system often needs as much attention as the muscles and joints. Pain, disuse, or compensation can disrupt natural movement patterns. What once was automatic—walking, jogging, running—can feel unsteady or unfamiliar.

Neuromuscular re-education is the process of retraining the brain and body to move efficiently and safely again. This requires:

• Repetition

• Gradual loading

• Real-time feedback

That’s where the AlterG and video analysis come in.

Step 1: Unweight to Relearn

The AlterG treadmill uses air pressure to reduce effective bodyweight in 1% increments. This allows patients to walk or run with significantly less impact, protecting healing tissues while restoring natural movement.

Benefits include:

• Earlier return to gait training post-injury or surgery

• Less pain and apprehension during movement

• Reduced load on surgical sites (ACL, meniscus, hip, foot/ankle repairs)

• Ability to increase speed and range of motion without overloading joints

Step 2: See the Movement. Fix the Pattern.

Visual feedback is a powerful teaching tool. By pairing running or walking on the AlterG with video gait analysis, patients can see their own mechanics in real time. We can highlight issues such as:

• Uneven step length

• Drop foot or limited push-off

• Hip hiking or knee valgus

• Asymmetrical arm swing

• Core instability or trunk lean

The combination of bodyweight-supported movement and visual cueing helps patients immediately adjust faulty mechanics. These changes become reinforced through repetition—rewiring motor patterns that had been altered due to injury or pain.

Real Progress. Real Confidence.

The AlterG and video feedback system is ideal for:

• Post-ACL or meniscus surgery

• Total joint replacements

• Achilles tendon repairs

• Stress fractures or lower extremity overuse injuries

• Neurologic conditions like stroke or foot drop

As strength and stability return, we gradually increase weight-bearing until full loading is achieved. This phased progression ensures a safe, confident return to sport or daily life.

From Clinical Recovery to Real-World Readiness

At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, we don’t just want our patients to heal—we want them to thrive. The combination of AlterG and video feedback accelerates recovery by retraining movement, restoring symmetry, and preparing patients for the demands of real life and sport.

Want to experience the future of rehab?
Contact Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C.,at our Lawrenceville office. Book an appointment online or call us directly to schedule your gait retraining session today.

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.