Flamengo use anti-gravity treadmill to speed injury recoveries as Saúl nears return | OneFootball

Yet to feature in 2026, Saúl is recovering from surgery on his left ankle and is close to returning for Flamengo. A photo of his rehab drew notice, showing him on an anti-gravity treadmill. According to Globo.com, the club have been using the device to aid injured players.

Nicknamed the NASA machine, it has been around for years and Cristiano Ronaldo used one at Real Madrid in the previous decade. Despite costing around R$ 500,000, it is common at leading clubs and sports performance centres.

Flamengo bought their unit in recent years and apply it under sports medicine guidance to accelerate recovery with lower risk. It suits ACL returns, muscle injuries and general tendinopathies, using a waist belt and an air chamber to offload bodyweight.

Players usually start running at roughly half their bodyweight, then progress without overloading the injured area. A transparent rear lets staff assess gait and any protective compensations. Once mechanics and comfort improve, athletes are cleared to run on the pitch.

The model can reduce effective load to near zero, though such extreme unloading is not useful in rehab. Club medics typically begin at 50%, so an 80 kg player starts at 40 kg and a 90 kg player at 45 kg, then the load rises with confidence. The device is generally used for three to four weeks.

Saúl has completed the treadmill phase, is training on the pitch and is close to rejoining the squad. Pulgar used it extensively after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in the second half of last year, and he also required surgery.

Source: Globo.com