VibroGym is used by the Target Performance centre, which offers rehab-based exercise prescription
to surface rotations. A total of 220 healthy individuals aged between 60 and 80 years took part in the study. The Power Plate group performed static and dynamic exercises on the Power Plate for 47 weeks, three times a week. After six months, the percentage of
people who didn’t fall in the most diffi cult conditions had risen to 79 per cent from 64 per cent at the start of the programme. After 12 months, this percentage had risen to 87 per cent of people not falling. “We already know that WBV training
can improve muscle strength and fl exibility. By combining this with improved proprioception and balance, Power Plate training can be a very useful tool in falls prevention training for the elderly population,” says Powell. “There are over 10.3 million
people aged 65+ in the UK and the ageing population is growing. As a non-invasive, refl exive, neurological stimulus that can be completed in a
April 2014 © Cybertrek 2014
Scepticism among club operators in the early years has been replaced with positive opinion
relatively brief timeframe, Power Plate offers an effective solution for this population, and an opportunity for the fi tness industry to help improve these individuals’ health and lifestyle.”
Reducing the impact of chronic illnesses Studies have also shown that WBV training offers great benefits and improvements in many conditions such as MS, chronic stroke, Parkinson’s, arthritis, fibromyalgia and diabetes. Last year, in a 12-week study of 50
non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes sufferers – conducted at the University of Auckland in New Zealand – WBV was founded to be feasible, safe and effective in improving glycaemic profi le, lipid- related cardiovascular risk factors and functional capacity. A 2012 study reported in the Health Science Journal showed the effects of
WBV on a type 2 diabetes sufferer with damage to the peripheral nervous system, commonly associated with diabetes. The 52-year-old woman complained of night sleep disturbance, foot pain, tingling and fear of falling, and had tried medication without any effect. After six weeks of WBV, her pain levels, muscle strength, balance and fl exibility improved and her neuropathy score decreased signifi cantly. On an anecdotal level, the Target
Performance centre in Amersham – which has been using VibroGym for seven years, specialising in rehab-based exercise prescription – has helped many sufferers of MS, stroke, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis. Stroke victim Robert Bright was referred to the centre by an occupational therapist in 2012, three years after suffering a stroke. Two sessions a week helped him walk more confi dently, improved muscle tone,
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 57
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92