Sharing the secret to better health and pain free hips….

Two years ago I underwent hip revision surgery, having had the initial hip replacement some 15 years earlier at the age of 43. I was born with bilateral hip displasia and suffered considerable pain (surprisingly only in one hip) so that initial surgery was a miracle for me.

Once I recovered from the surgery I was able to walk considerable distances, even completing a 10 mile (yes mile!) walkathon with my daughter. Overseas travel was such a joy because of the pain free walking. But I wore that hip out and it needed revision…the time leading up to that was again painful and wearying, and of course I was 15 years older.

My expectation of having this revision was that I would recuperate, form a great relationship with my physiotherapist, do all the right things and be ready to start walking and enjoying a pain free life once again. Not so! Despite excellent physiotherapy, aqua exercises, treatment from muscle balance experts, massage, diet, and a very considerable hole in our finances I was unable to hold weight on that hip. My orthopedic specialist eventually told me after some 15 months that this is probably as good as it gets, and to keep using my walking stick and get on with life, which I did.

However, one day whilst doing my regular walk with a friend she complained that her muscle was ‘sore’ and that it was because of an exercise she had done at ‘Power Plate’ the day before. Where she rubbed her leg was exactly where I had no strength in mine. I had known she was going to Power Plate, and she often raved about it. I took it all with a grain of salt, as I had resigned myself to where I was at. However, this persistent friend persuaded me to phone my specialist, which I did. He encouraged me to ‘have a go…what is there to lose’. He assured me that I couldn’t harm the hip as the trainers would know what I could and couldn’t do.

Accompanied by my friend I went for my ‘free session’, somewhat skeptical and apprehensive. My anxieties were quickly eased, though I was nervous trying different stances on the machine. After 10 minutes I was ‘sold’ and signed up for another 12 sessions, thinking that would tell me one way or another. I literally felt that I was walking on air when I walked out of that studio and every instinct told me that this had to be good for me.

Have you heard of Power Plate? It is a fantastic way for we 50+ people to keep a level of fitness and flexibility without having to exhaust ourselves. The machine uses vibrations to contract your muscles (it’s apparently the hottest new exercise phenomenon among the stars too) Power Plate has a website www.powerplate.com where you can read about the machines and even buy them on-line if you want to get your good vibes at home!.

Power Plate can take the place of resistance (weight) training, floor exercises, flexibility routines. It is recommended that you still do some aerobic exercise (eg walking), though this can also be provided on the machine if you wish. The principle of it is acceleration or vibration training. You stand, sit, or lie on the machine holding various positions and the machine does the rest. Having said that…you certainly know you have had a workout at the end of it! At the end of the workout there is the massage on the machine and I always call that my ‘reward for good behaviour’. And best of all….you are in and out of there in less than 20 minutes…so it can be done in a lunch break, on the way to work etc .

Nearly 6 months after starting this training, twice a week (sometimes 3 times) I know the benefits and am amazed at how far I have progressed. Just when I think I’m on top of the excercises my trainer adds a new one, introduces something else to challenge me. I’d love to tell you that I have thrown away the walking stick…but I haven’t. It will happen though! The benefits I can feel are better all round strength…particularly in my arms and shoulders, and I have certainly strengthened in my pelvic and abdominals. I used to suffer from vertigo and in fact had it quite badly when I went for my first session….somehow that session vibrated the vertigo right out of my system and it has never returned…amazing.

From a financial point of view it is very good value for money. I pay $15 per session by paying 6 weeks at a time. You have a personal trainer, you can add the weight/measurement loss routine to the fitness one. I have heard of children purchasing the 12 session vouchers for their parents as gifts, because they can see the benefits. The cost is outweighed by the need for supplements to improve bone density, blood circulation etc…this machine does it all.

Don’t believe me? Have a go! The first session is free.

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