New gym will use zero gravity technology to treat sports injuries

Planners have given the go-ahead for a new team training gym in Parkmore, which will use ‘zero gravity’ technology to treat sports injuries.

Michael Horan from Ballinasloe has been granted permission to develop the gym with rehabilitation and ‘prehab’ facilities on a site in the Racecourse Business Park which he owns.

“The gymnasium will cater for team training and will focus on rehabilitation of sports injuries sustained in rugby, football, hurling and soccer for both male and female.

“The facility will have an in-house physiotherapist and will include the latest technologies in the speedy rehabilitation of players as the modern games require early recovery by using, for example, ‘Alter-G Therapy’, which uses a machine that replicates weightlessness.

“A further focus will be to provide ‘prehabilitation’, which equips the young athlete with early muscle and strength development to help avoid future injuries in their sport of choice,” the application reads.

The overall area of the building will be 1,200 square metres, and it will include a lobby and reception area, three assessment rooms, an Alter-G Therapy room and changing facilities. There will be a total of 29 parking spaces.

Mr Horan is already a part-owner of R80 Sports in Athlone.