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Injured athletes run on air - NASA device helps racers recover from sore joints and muscles.

Each year, Craig Cooper typically competes in a half-dozen triathlons, with a few 10Ks mixed in for fun.

The constant pounding on his legs and ligaments has taken a toll, says the 42-year-old.

"This year," Cooper said, "I did three races in an 11-week period," including the Hermosa Beach triathlon. "My legs were dead."

Cooper and other racers, particularly those suffering injuries, have a new tool to get in shape for distance running and recover from high-stress activities.

For the first time, an odd-looking machine called the Alter-G, an anti-gravity treadmill, is available to the public at a Playa Vista rehabilitation facility.

Developed by NASA to help astronauts stay in shape, the machine has so far been used commercially only by professional athletes.

Owners of Evolution Physical Therapy, became the first in Southern California to offer the $75,000 machine for its clients and the public   Read Full Article...