A new tool has eased the responsibilities of people who hold physical therapy jobs as they help their patients enhance their mobility, according to a published report.
The AlterG Treadmill originally was devised by NASA as a method of preparing astronauts to walk on the moon, Asbury Park Press reports. Ranging in price from $30,000 to $75,000, the AlterG is now available in only a few rehabilitation facilities in New Jersey.
"The AlterG is definitely on the cutting edge of technology in physical therapy," physical therapist and chief operating officer Val Dellocono with Trinity Rehab in Brick, New Jersey, told the news source. "Because it's so ahead of the curve … we wanted to align ourselves with the AlterG and were excited to make the investment."
Physical therapist Pete Morro with ProCare Rehabilitation in Hazlet and Colts Neck, of which he also is a co-owner, said that a 200-pound individual who uses the device would only put 40 pounds of pressure on his joints.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapists typically require a doctoral degree and must be licensed by the states in which they serve.