A rehabilitation centre dedicated to helping professional footballers overcome injuries and return to competition has invested in the world's first elliptical bicycle, the ElliptiGO, to enhance its programme.

Lilleshall National Sports Centre, in Shropshire, is funded by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), and its main purpose is to help players overcome the type of lower limb injuries that are common to the game. Philip Newton, director and physiotherapist at Lilleshall said: "We have always used exercise bikes and mountain bikes as part of our rehab programme, to improve lower limb endurance and overall fitness.

"However, because the ElliptiGO requires you to balance and use your upper body to maintain posture, as well as use a leg motion that is more akin to running, it means that the exercise is more functional and is well tolerated in conditions where pain with lower limb loading is an issue." Training with ElliptiGO uses the same muscles as running, but with a lesser impact biomechanically, as the motion does not create pressure or abrasion on the joints.

Due to its low impact nature, it is also an ideal rehabilitation training device for those who want to escape the gym and train outdoors, even if they have a joint injury. The ElliptiGO's pedalling motion is specifically engineered to be closer to running than an elliptical trainer or stepper.

The system includes a long stride length (26in/66cm) and steep recovery stroke that makes 'running' on the ElliptiGO feel like running outdoors. Riders can cruise at speeds in excess of 25mph/40kph, as well as climb and descend hills using the range of gears provided.