HydroTrack

Like other underwater treadmills, HydroTrack leverages the buoyancy of water to reduce impact on a patient’s joints while he or she participates in a rehabilitation therapy program. When submerged to the waist, a person reduces his or her body weight by about 50 percent. When submerged to the chest, that percentage increases to 75. It is commonly used by athletes recovering from injuries such as Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, iliotibial band syndrome, knee pain, ankle sprains, fractures, and ACL tears. However, it also is appropriate for as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, including back or joint problems, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Underwater treadmills allow users to mimic the same motions they would use to run or walk on land while reaping similar cardiovascular benefits. That is why they are so popular among runners and other athletes who are trying to maintain fitness as they rehab injuries. Some perfectly healthy runners even use them as cross-training option so they can add extra mileage to their training regimen without putting additional stress on their legs. These treadmills are typically found in athletic training rooms or physical therapy clinics, some of which offer treadmill sessions on a cash-pay basis.