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Movement and Exercise

How good vibrations can build fitness

By July 29, 2013March 27th, 2024No Comments

“I’m picking up good vibrations” “Good, good, good vibrations” . The classic Beach Boy song may not have won any awards for originality in the lyrics, but for me the tune always conjures up the idea of sunshine, sandy beaches, fun times and healthy times.

I recently had the great pleasure of meeting Angie Thorne, proprietor of Empowered Body Training Studio in Perth. Her studio uses what is called a power plate which vibrates at a certain rate while you exercise on it. The purpose being to stimulate your muscle groups and make them work much harder.

It’s an interesting concept and has considerable scientific backing behind it.  This is not a sweat suit wrap to simply make you lose weight or a vibrating rubber band to shake off the spare tyre, but a piece of equipment designed to assist those undergoing rehabilitation post injury or surgery, for those who are looking to build cardiovascular fitness or strength in particular muscle groups and those who want to undertake some general resistance type training that doesn’t involve hours at the gym. 

She has clients using it to build bone density, pelvic floor training and general stretching, toning strengthening. Angie now gets many referrals from physiotherapists, orthopaedic surgeons and chiropractors. 

I interviewed Angie on the Couch program You can watch the interview here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdAvzSI7TVA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&enablejsapi=1&w=854&h=480]

I thought I should give the Power Plate a try to see if it all that it is cracked up to be. I have to say I was really pleasantly surprised. The session was conducted on a one to one basis to ensure all the movements and exercises were carried out correctly and safely. Plus a full history was taken first to ensure that there weren’t any contraindications to undertaking the exercises.

Then it was time to step ono the plate!

The 30 minute session went past so quickly and while I felt I had done some work, I didn’t feel sore or totally exhausted. So was it going to prove of benefit, because don’t you have to feel the pain to get the gain? 

It was about two hours later that I realised that my muscles did now feel very tired and in need of a lie down! The good thing was that the session is short, it is supervised and above all it was great fun. 

So, I have signed up to do two sessions a week over the next six weeks as part of a pre-ski fitness program. Angie has programs for many different sports. The proof will be in the pudding as they say when I hit the slopes in a few weeks time. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Meanwhile have a look at www.powerplate.com.au and let me know what you think.

 

Dr Jenny Brockis

Dr Jenny Brockis is a medical practitioner and internationally board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, workplace health and wellbeing consultant, podcaster, keynote speaker and best-selling author. Her new book 'Thriving Mind: How to Cultivate a Good Life' (Wiley) is available online and at all good bookstores.

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