A Whole Lotta Shaking

Technology Developed To Tone Bodies In The Gym Is Being Used To Treat The Symptoms Of Crippling Conditions

“Whole body vibration has been the most talked about development in fitness circles for years. The best-known technology, the Power Plate, has gained fans because of its famed ability to deliver the results of a 60-minute workout in a gym in just 10 minutes on the machine. But while the toning aspects of whole body vibration (WBV) have been heavily highlighted, less has been written about the health benefits. Some people dealing with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy have found WBV to be a big help in dealing with their symptoms. Some research has been carried out on the specific health benefits and dozens of studies are still ongoing. However, it's not just muscles that benefit from the process -- studies have shown that WBV can help the nervous system, circulation and lymphatic drainage. It's also been proven to help bone density. The reason why the technology was originally developed was to help reduce muscle and bone loss in cosmonauts (see panel) and several studies have shown that it can achieve that.”

http://www.independent.ie/health/diet-fitness/a-whole-lotta-shaking-1410908.html