New Anti-Gravity Treadmill at UH Parma Medical Center to Aid Faster Recovery for Patients of All Ages

Purchase made through gift from Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation

PARMA, Ohio - An innovative new anti-gravity treadmill at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center is helping patients of all ages and activity levels return more quickly and safely to weight bearing, thanks to a generous gift from the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation.

The new Alter G weightless treadmill facilitates a faster and earlier return to upright weight bearing activity for post-operative and post-injury patients than is possible on a traditional treadmill. A quicker return to motion and appropriate weight-bearing decreases muscle atrophy and swelling and markedly improves patient outcomes. In older patients, it reduces risk of falls by initiating gait and balance training more quickly.

The Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation made a $45,000 gift to UH Parma Medical Center to fund the purchase of this important equipment, at the request of orthopedic surgeon Jared Levin, MD, team physician for the Cleveland Monsters hockey team.

"The Alter G will be used by a wide range of patients of varying ages and medical problems, which is what makes it such a valuable addition to our physical therapy space," said Dr. Levin. "High school, college and professional athletes recovering from leg injuries will benefit from the chance to progress back to activity earlier. Runners specifically will find it a valuable way to maintain conditioning as they rehabilitate from hip, knee or ankle problems.

"Total knee and hip patients will benefit in the early stages of recovery from the chance to walk and perform exercises with their body weight decreased. Patients with lower extremity fractures will also be able to mobilize sooner and shorten their recovery time."

The equipment is housed in the physical therapy suite in Medical Arts Center 4, which shares a lobby with UH Parma's Outpatient Center. This PT location also is adjacent to the new home of the Center of Orthopedic Surgery, where Dr. Levin practices with orthopedic surgeons Drs. Michael LoPresti and Alan Panteck, Hannah Detec, CNP, and primary care sports medicine physician Jock Taylor, MD, who also is a team physician for the Monsters hockey team.

The weightless treadmill is only available at select UH locations, including UH Westlake and Streetsboro health centers and UH Rehabilitation Services at T3 Performance in Avon.

The Foundation has a long history of providing financial support of hospital clinical services that benefit patients. In recent years, the Foundation has contributed to the expansion of surgical services to bring more advanced procedures to the UH Parma community, the renovation of rooms on 6 Medical for patients admitted to hospice, the extension of music therapy and massage therapy for patients and nursing education.

"The Foundation is committed to helping our doctors and caregivers fulfill their vision for providing the best care close to home in key services needed by our community," said Marcia Ferguson, the Foundation's executive director.

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