What is the AMTI Side-by-Side Instrumented Treadmill?

The AMTI Side-by-Side Instrumented Treadmill is a split-belt force-sensing treadmill designed for gait research requiring independent left and right belt control. Featuring two belts separated by a 7 mm longitudinal gap, each belt can run at a completely independent speed — making this system the gold standard for stroke rehabilitation research, motor adaptation studies, and asymmetric gait protocols.

A six-axis AMTI force plate is integrated under each belt, measuring all three forces (Fx, Fy, Fz) and moments (Mx, My, Mz) generated by the subject. The design supports speeds up to 20 km/h and inclinations up to 25% grade, with a reinforced frame delivering a 120 Hz structural natural frequency for clean, artifact-free data.

Key Features

• Independent Belt Speed Control: Each belt can run at a different speed — enabling split-belt protocols for stroke rehabilitation, gait retraining, and locomotor adaptation studies.
• Dual Six-Axis Force Platforms: Each belt is fully supported by an integrated AMTI force plate (Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz), with 8800 N vertical and 4500 N horizontal capacity per plate.
• Reversible Belts with Inclination: Supports 0–25% grade (14°) inclination with reversible belt direction for uphill and downhill testing under asymmetric conditions.
• Ships Fully Assembled: Arrives complete with all software pre-loaded on an AMTI-supplied PC, ready for immediate use in your laboratory or motion capture suite.
• Above Ground or In-Floor Installation: Available as a standard above-ground model with access stairs, or as a recessed pit model flush with the floor for seamless capture volume integration.
• USB Digital Integration: Simple plug-and-play USB connection compatible with all major motion capture software platforms.
• Continuous Multi-Stride Data Collection: Collect data across multiple footfalls in rapid succession, enabling efficient and comprehensive gait datasets even in small lab spaces.

FAQ

What makes the Side-by-Side treadmill different from the Tandem?

The Side-by-Side treadmill features two belts placed next to each other longitudinally, separated by a 7 mm gap. Each belt can run at a completely independent speed — this is the key advantage for split-belt gait adaptation studies and stroke rehabilitation protocols. The Tandem model runs both belts at the same speed but uses a front-to-back design that preserves natural gait.

What research is the Side-by-Side treadmill best suited for?

This system is ideal for stroke rehabilitation research, split-belt motor adaptation studies, asymmetric gait analysis, and any protocol requiring differential left/right limb loading or speed perturbations. It is widely used in clinical gait labs and neurorehabilitation research centers.

Can I run each belt at a different speed simultaneously?

Yes. High-performance digital motor controllers allow independent control of each belt’s speed, direction, and timing, enabling complex asymmetric gait paradigms.

What software is included?

The treadmill ships with all software pre-loaded on an AMTI-supplied PC, including the motor controller interface. USB digital integration streams force data directly to major motion capture and biomechanics data acquisition platforms.

What are the installation options?

Available as Above Ground (freestanding, with caster wheels and access stairs) or In-Floor (Pit), installed flush with the surrounding floor surface via a recessed concrete pit or raised access floor with mounting rails.

What is the vertical force capacity of each integrated force plate?

Each integrated six-axis force plate has a vertical capacity of 8800 N (2000 lb) and horizontal capacity of 4500 N (1000 lb), with a 300 Hz natural frequency for high-fidelity force data.