The Otter system consists of the power unit and the treadmill. The power unit uses hydraulic power to run the treadmill and pneumatics for control, keeping the electricity far from the water.
The Otter power unit is built with versatility and safety in mind (Patent Pending)
The Power unit in uses a 3HP 120 VAC UL registered electric motor driving a 3GPM Pump. The unit also features a large display for speed, time and distance traveled. No site pre-engineering required as with others.
There is a 3 Gallon [11.4 L] food grade hydraulic fluid reservoir. The pneumatic controls at the treadmill in the water are used to adjust the speed of flow to the hydraulic treadmill motor.
The standard tether length is 25 feet, which is enough to travel from the power unit to the treadmill in the pool.
The Otter treadmill
The Otter treadmill has a scalable belt speed of up to five MPH and uses less than half the energy of all other products on the market. This also makes it easy to initially get on the treadmill.
The four white pneumatic controls seen in the photo are emergency stop, start and used to adjust the speed of flow to the hydraulic treadmill motor.
The black cable (tether) leading to the pneumatic controls leads to the power unit and allows a full 25 ft. allowing for flexibility in all locations.
What actual users say about the Otter
“Generally in physical therapy, the pools are not very large, so the smaller size of the Otter leaves room for other patients. I like the long substantial handles that allow a patient to hold on in a natural position and feel secure knowing they are there when taking hands off of them. The hydrotherapy treadmill feels like a conventional treadmill, so there is a natural progression for a patient to use a typical floor-mounted one in the physical therapy facility or at a gym post-treatment. From a therapy standpoint, the speed remaining under three MPH is more than adequate and preferred for safety purposes.”
Judy Morrison, MPT