Running Strong With Power Plate®
LONDON, July 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Runners are renowned for not wanting to spend time on gym-based strength work, core stability exercises and stretching, preferring instead to 'just run'. Runners are also renowned for regularly succumbing to injury. This is no coincidence, according to Steve Powell, Director of Education at Performance Health Systems, who advocates running-specific exercises and functional flexibility to keep muscles and joints in peak running form.
"Runners will be pleased to hear the secret to avoiding injury and recovering quickly between runs does not lie in spending hours lifting weights or lying on gym mats easing out every muscle," says Steve Powell. "Just 10-12 minutes, two or three times a week on Power Plate whole body vibration platform will do the trick."
The 'science bit'
Whole body vibration training speeds up recovery and regeneration, and a few specific exercises performed on the vibrating platform of Power Plate® can work wonders. This is due to the rapid, harmonic vibration of the Power Plate surface which facilitates a number of positive responses within the body including increased blood flow and circulation.
The precision of the vibration wave and the rapid movement of the Power Plate platform initiates and forces the body's natural reflexes to engage. This reflexive stabilisation response is more commonly described as proprioception.
In addition to enhancing flexibility and range of movement, Power Plate provides active recovery by stimulating a circulatory response that removes the metabolic by-products of exercise, drives more oxygen into the muscle tissues and aids lymphatic drainage.
Suitable for all runners
Running can cause your muscles and joints to become stiff and sore. Every runner is different, but typically the most common problem areas are:
- Muscle tightness in the calves and glutes caused by the repetitive patterns of running
- Limited ankle and hip joint mobility caused by restriction and tightening of the muscles and connective tissue around ankle joints and the surfaces of the feet (plantar fascia)
- Tightness in the front hips - often caused by overuse of the front hip muscles - quads, psoas and Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) as a result of dysfunction in synergy with the more powerful muscles on the back of the hip (hamstrings and glutes). In addition extended periods of sitting, for example at a desk at work, can lead to restriction and limited extensibility in the front hip area
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