A West Central Iowa teen who has been reliant on a wheelchair as far back as he can recall believes he is making significant progress with people who hold physical therapy jobs and an innovative treadmill, according to a published report.
A spina bifida patient, Ryan Assman, 16, rises to the occasion for demands imparted by the AlterG Anti-Gravity treadmill, KTIV reports. He said he was quite surprised to discover how good his workout was and by how much he perspired when working with the machinery that merges traditional therapy and space-age innovation.
"Anywhere from younger teens all the way up to the geriatric population just about anyone can use it," owner Todd Nicholson with Nicholson Physical Therapy told the news source, noting the machinery is appropriate and helpful "for post surgical to weight loss programs to just trying to take a little pressure off their legs while working out."
The machinery requires patients be enclosed in a bag that then is pumped full of air, which lifts patients so they may adapt and adjust how much weight they are able to withstand.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapists help patients manage their pain and enhance flexibility.