No Pain No Gain? Not Necessarily!
Whole Body Vibration Is Providing Answers for Fitness
Enthusiasts Young and Old
"No pain, no gain!" is a cliche that has characterized fitness training and exercise for decades. The general assumption is that in order to improve the body's fitness and wellness levels, both aesthetically and functionally, one must engage in strenuous high-impact exercise regimens such as weight-resistance training, aerobics and spinning classes, or running. Well a new movement in fitness and wellness known as whole body vibration training is changing "no pain, no gain" into "gain with no pain!"

While the long proven high-impact and strenuous exercise methods are indeed effective, many fitness enthusiasts suffer aggravating aches and pains following their lengthy stay in the gym. Whole body vibration training however is providing the necessary proven low-impact method to achieve fitness and wellness goals and increase longevity in a completely unobtrusive manner.

Whole body vibration exploits the human body's innate reflexive response to disruptions in stability, in order to stimulate enhancements in muscle strength and performance, flexibility and range of motion, release of critical fitness, wellness and longevity hormones, fat reduction, and reduction of pain, particularly lumbar back ailments and then some. Just as the leg kicks forward involuntarily when the doctor strikes our lower knee to test reflexes, the body's muscles also engage in an involuntary reflexive contraction in response to each disruption in stability. Again, the body's reaction to these disruptions is totally natural and occurs involuntarily and unconsciously at the neural level.

Los Angeles-based Power Plate North America introduced the country's first mass-distributed whole body vibration training machine, The Power Plate, in 2002, and already has made a substantial impact on the world of sports medicine and strength and conditioning. Professional teams from all four major sports, including the NFL's World Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers the NHL Stanley Cup finalist Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs among many other pro teams, currently utilize the Power Plate for its host of whole body vibration training benefits. As a result, The Power Plate is now gaining attention among mainstream health and fitness professionals and longevity centers across the country. But The Power Plate's not merely a fitness method for elite athletes, but also for the host of Americans young and old who want to live healthier, longer lives.

The Power Plate resembles a large scale, featuring a 2x3-foot platform. Individuals need merely assume a "soft squat" (standing with knees slightly bent) position on the platform, with subtle vibrations occurring 30-50 times per second, triggering the critical reflexive muscle contraction throughout the body. Each set performed on The Power Plate is no longer than 30, 45 or 60 seconds in length, and training sessions on the machine need be performed no more than three to four times a week with each session lasting a maximum of 10 minutes of actual time on the plate.

In addition to providing a proven fitness and longevity method to fitness enthusiast and elite athletes, The Power Plate allows individuals with debilitating conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and stroke victims to enjoy the benefits of exercise working within their personal limitations. Published research studies have also shown that whole body vibration training may provide the only method of actually counteracting the degeneration of bone density without the aid of pharmacology, thus providing the ultimate weapon against osteoporosis which affects millions of Americans each year.

Another recent study found that using whole body vibration therapy increased growth hormone levels by 361 percent, a drastic improvement which may slow the effects of aging (Euro J Appl Physiol 00:81:449-454).

Whole body vibration may be a new concept to most Americans; however, it was developed by Russian Olympic trainers looking to maintain a competitive edge during the 1970s when the Russians were dominating Olympic play. Success with athletes led to research by the Russian space program, yielding compelling data supporting the technology's ability to combat the degenerative effects of zero gravity conditions on muscle and bone tissue (NASA is conducting similar research with The Power Plate). A host of European research, published here in the U.S. is currently available supporting the various claims of body vibration training.

The Power Plate with its revolutionary whole body vibration technology is offering a solution that will not only improve the quality of life day-to-day, but ultimately add precious years as well. It's important to note that there are several groups or conditions for which training on The Power Plate is not recommended including individuals with pacemakers, immediately following surgical procedures or during pregnancy. For more information on whole body vibration training technology and the Power Plate, contact Power Plate North America at 310-216-7654 or visit www.powerplateusa.com