Running imposes knee contact forces of 3–5× body weight per step. A landmark in vivo study using electronic tibial prostheses directly measured significant, quantifiable GRF reductions during LBPP treadmill use — providing direct biomechanical validation for orthopedic applications.

Mid-to-late stage Parkinson's disease, stroke, and high-disability MS patients often cannot safely use conventional treadmills due to fall risk and cognitive load. The LBPP enclosed chamber eliminates fall risk during training, enabling high-volume gait repetition central to neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation — which is not achievable with conventional equipment.

Aerobic exercise is one of the most potent stimuli for BDNF — a protein supporting neuronal survival, neuroplasticity, and cognitive function. Treadmill exercise specifically increases hippocampal BDNF in both animal and human studies. In Parkinson's disease, treadmill exercise has been shown to increase BDNF and GDNF in the striatum, potentially providing neuroprotective effects beyond motor benefit. For patients with PD, stroke, or OA who cannot perform standard aerobic exercise, LBPP microgravity treadmills provide access to these neuroplastic benefits that would otherwise be unachievable.

LBPP microgravity treadmills enable athletes to run at higher absolute speeds than possible overground. With Ground Reaction Forces substantially reduced, athletes can practice sprint mechanics at supramaximal velocities with lower injury risk than overground overspeed methods. This application is used by professional sports programs across multiple disciplines.

Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths globally. One-third of adults over 65 fall each year; 1 in 10 results in a bone fracture. Lower-extremity muscle weakness confers a 5× increase in fall risk. LBPP microgravity treadmills provide a unique dual advantage: enabling progressive load-bearing ambulation for those too deconditioned for standard exercise, while the enclosed design eliminates fall risk during training sessions themselves.

Obesity increases knee joint forces by approximately 4× body weight per walking step. Pain from this loading leads to inactivity, which drives further weight gain and deconditioning. LBPP microgravity treadmills break this cycle — enabling therapeutic exercise at meaningful intensities while protecting joints from the loading that causes pain and injury.

Body Weight Percentage (BW%) is the percentage of full body weight the user feels during exercise. Unloading % = 100% minus BW%. Example: a user at 80% BW feels 80% of their body weight and is 20% unloaded. Boost Treadmills allow unloading of up to 80%, meaning a user can feel as little as 20% of their body weight. Aquatic underwater treadmills typically achieve a BW% range of approximately 10–50% BW (50–90% unloading) — with deeper immersion producing greater unloading. Harness systems typically achieve a maximum of approximately 40% unloading (user feels at least ~60% BW).

Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) confirmed gait parameters are NOT significantly different between LBPP and harness systems at equivalent BW%. This means positive outcomes from harness BWSTT studies translate directly to LBPP microgravity treadmills — with the additional advantages of fall safety, 1% BW% precision, and superior user comfort.

All parameters shown are synthesised from published peer-reviewed research and are provided for informational reference only. Boost Treadmills is not a medical practice and does not provide clinical advice. Protocol parameters should always be reviewed and approved by a licensed clinician, physical therapist, or treating physician before application to individual patients. The linked studies below are the direct sources for the ranges shown above — clinicians are encouraged to review these publications before applying protocols.

The existing evidence base for LBPP technology is substantial and growing rapidly. However, identifying where evidence is thin or absent allows clinicians to apply appropriate caution, guides future research investment, and distinguishes what is well-established from what is extrapolated from related populations. All clinical applications in this document are supported by published evidence; the gaps below represent areas where that evidence could be strengthened.

Johns Hopkins Rehabilitation Network, Northwestern University Athletics, and several government locations were among the first to receive a Boost Treadmill.