🏃‍♂️ How We Use the LEVER Body Weight Support System at Core Values PT (and Why It Works)

At Core Values Physical Therapy in Orlando and Winter Garden, we specialize in helping athletes, runners, and active adults move better, train smarter, and recover faster. One of the tools we use to make that happen? The LEVER body weight support system — and it’s changing the way our clients come back from injury and build performance.

Whether you’re returning to running after a stress fracture, dealing with chronic Achilles pain, or simply want to train without unnecessary wear and tear, LEVER is one of our go-to systems for keeping you active while reducing stress on your body.

💡 What Is the LEVER System?

The LEVER system is a body weight support (BWS) device that attaches to a standard treadmill and allows you to run or walk with a reduced percentage of your body weight. That means less impact on joints, tendons, and healing tissues — and more confidence to move well without flaring up symptoms.

Think of it as the smarter way to stay active while rehabbing or ramping up your training.

🔑 Why We Use LEVER at Core Values PT

We integrate the LEVER system into rehab and performance plans every week because it helps our clients:

✅ Run Sooner After Injury

If you’ve had to stop running due to plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, hamstring strain, or a stress reaction, LEVER lets you get back on your feet sooner, without overloading the injured area while very smartly providing our athletes with graded exposure back to loading/sport. 

✅ Build Volume Without Breaking Down

For runners building toward a race or athletes increasing intensity, LEVER gives us a way to add mileage or training time without increasing injury risk. It’s a game changer during high-load phases or return-to-play timelines.

✅ Improve Form Without Full Body Load

We use LEVER for gait retraining and running mechanics work, especially when fatigue or compensation gets in the way of clean movement. This gives us the chance to correct issues like over-striding, pelvic drop, or poor cadence — without the distraction of pain.

✅ Train Smarter With Less Pain

LEVER is also ideal for clients with arthritic joints, chronic low back pain, or post-op (think ACL reconstruction, achilles repair, Total Knee or total hips) who still want to stay active but need a smarter way to load.

👏 Who It's For:

• Runners returning from injury

• Pickleball and CrossFit athletes with recurring joint pain

• Athletes looking to build endurance without irritating their back, hips or knees. 

• Anyone who wants to move better while minimizing stress on the body

🩺 What to Expect in a Core Values PT Evaluation

When you book an evaluation with us, here’s how LEVER fits into your care:

1. We assess your movement — whether it’s your run mechanics, hip stability, squat form, or rotational control

2. We test how you perform with and without load using LEVER to reduce impact and uncover hidden movement issues

3. We treat, train, and coach based on what we find — blending manual therapy, strength work, and BWS-based rehab

4. You get a game plan to help you move forward confidently, whether your goal is injury recovery or performance

🎁 Ready to Try It?

We include LEVER training and assessment in our performance evaluations — available at both our Orlando and Winter Garden locations. Whether you’re coming in for a specific injury or just want to level up your performance, this is one of the best tools we use to help clients feel better and move stronger.

📅 Book your evaluation today and experience how LEVER can help you stay active, confident, and pain-free — no matter where you are in your journey. 407-476-6613