Fit Kids of Arizona and Team USA Arizona have teamed up to bring the Alter G treadmill to Flagstaff to benefit both Fit Kids clients and Olympic-caliber athletes. The Alter G is a reduced-gravity treadmill that allows the user to literally change the force of gravity their lower body is experiencing as they run. Alter G has been described as giving the runner the feeling of running on the moon.

This state-of-the-art, low-impact machine is located at the Fit Kids of Arizona clinic, 1000 N. Humphreys St. Ste. #210.

For Fit Kids clients, the Alter G offers extra confidence and comfort by offering a safe, firsthand experience of the joy and freedom that comes with running by allowing them to feel a little lighter and minimize tiredness while running. Additionally, the Alter G reduces the total force of impact on growing joints in children and injured joints in athletes.

“The goal is that using the Alter G will encourage children to enjoy running more because it will help kids improve their confidence by not becoming exhausted so quickly,” said Matt Leversee, Fit Kids program coordinator. “Once kids gain more confidence, they are more likely to continue an exercise program outside the clinic.”

With a price tag of around $80,000 for a new unit, the Alter G usually is reserved for competitive collegiate programs and professional sports organizations. However, Flagstaff Medical Center’s Foundation, Fit Kids of Arizona and Team USA Arizona were able to negotiate pricing to make it more affordable and more available to a larger group of people.

Team USA Arizona is the Olympic training program for post-collegiate runners to offer athletes from around the U.S. the opportunity to train in the high altitude of Flagstaff in preparation for national events and 2012 Olympic trials.

In February 2011, Fit Kids of Arizona and Team USA Arizona formed a partnership that included collaboration on a grant program that allowed four schools between Flagstaff and Cottonwood to train weekly with some of the Team USA Arizona runners, as well as the relocation of the Alter-G Treadmill to the Fit Kids office in Flagstaff.

Fit Kids of Arizona began in January 2009 with the goal of decreasing childhood obesity and promoting healthy lifestyles for kids and their families. Since that time more than 680 children have been referred to the program at Flagstaff Medical Center, and more than 300 children have been referred to the program at Verde Valley Medical Center. The Fit Kids team is made up of medical, nutritional, fitness and behavioral experts who work with participants and family members to identify concerns and problem-areas, and assist in setting goals for healthy lifestyle improvement.

To learn more about Fit Kids, call 928 214-3537 or visit NAHealth.com/OurServices/FitKidsofArizona.