When I first learned I had multiple sclerosis, I dove headfirst into researching anything and everything that might help me. The entire right side of my body is affected by my condition. Most of the things I did with ease before are now proving to be complicated tasks. This is especially true when it comes to exercising and working out.

Exercise after MS looks nothing like it did before. Before my diagnosis, I would look forward to exercise. I never understood why people were out of shape. Working out was fun and energizing. I was determined not to let MS take that away from me. And, I did not. I did not just let it. I put up a hell of a fight. I tried everything. I fought to keep up the same routines I had been doing for years. It was no use. I researched new exercises. Everything was either too easy or too hard. There was no in-between for where I was. I joined online fitness groups. I had the same result with every workout. It would end with me on the floor sobbing and fighting for breaths as my anxiety fired up. Nothing was working for me.

MS had made me even more cognizant of avoiding all the “sounds too good to be true” schemes and gimmicks. The vibration plate was skirting on the edge of this. The idea is that you sit, stand, or even lie on a vibrating platform. The vibrations incite your muscles to relax and contract dozens of times every second. Consistent practice of whole-body vibration therapy has been shown to aid in weight loss, burn fat, improve blood circulation, build strength and decrease stress. All of that is from standing on a vibrating plate for fifteen minutes a day three days a week. It gets even better. Whole-body vibration therapy has also been shown to help build bone strength and reduce bone loss.

When it comes to MS, whole-body vibration therapy may be useful in the prevention and treatment of movement disorders such as those seen with the condition. Vibration therapy has also been shown to improve balance and coordination. Some people report that using vibration therapy has helped their neuropathy. Others have reported sleeping better and having fewer muscle spasms. The list continues on to include improved stamina, improved pelvic floor function, increased cognitive performance, less spasticity, and an overall increase in general well-being.

I was sold. It did not sound like there was any harm in trying at least. Some searching on Amazon and I decided on the LifePro. There are plenty of cheaper options out there, and even more expensive ones. The LifePro seemed like a good starter model to help me decide if this was the type of therapy I wanted to pursue. I ran the idea by my physical therapist. She was excited and said it would be great for me to try.

I did not love it. I did not hate it. I have not mentioned it until now because I never used it consistently. It sat against the wall for nearly a year untouched. Not because it is a subpar product, but because my anxiety and depression never allowed me to fully attempt to use it to its fullest potential.

I am unsure what refueled the fire and made me want to try it again. I am glad I did. I have been using my vibration plate consistently for eight weeks now. I love it. Mine is a pretty simple unit to operate. All I need to do is turn it on, choose the speed, and set the time.

A workout on the vibration plate for me is fifteen minutes. I focus on arm strengthening, which also inadvertently means lots of squatting. It is impossible for me to grip any amount of weight for longer than a minute or two. So, for instance, after I do six bicep curls I squat to set the weights back onto the floor. My hand only needs a moment to recover. Then, I squat down again to retrieve the weights. I repeat this process with different arm exercises for fifteen minutes.

I can say that after two months of using the vibration plate, I am finally starting to see small glimpses of muscle definition reappear. That is something I have been striving for since MS robbed me of my ability to exercise the way I wanted to. There has also been an improvement in the neuropathy in my right foot. However, that has been very slowly recovering on its own since the flare-up that caused it five months ago. I will give credit to the vibration plate for possibly helping to speed up the healing process. This past week I have also begun working on taking longer strides when I walk. That is not something I have felt comfortable doing in the last two years. Maybe this is an indication of improving balance. I am not really sure. I still sway like a tree in the wind when I stand in one position.

As for other symptoms, I have seen no changes. I completed our Saturday morning dog walk just an hour or so ago. Saturday mornings mean pushing myself to go further. This morning we actually cut it short by half a mile. My right leg giving in sooner than normal. There has also been no change in bladder dysfunction. If I get up at three in the morning to pee, I am still going to sit for minutes waiting for it to happen. I have also seen no change in my right hand/arm strength. That seems to be on a steady decline no matter what I do.

Nevertheless, I have seen enough benefits from using my vibration plate that I plan to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. My favorite thing is that when I have had the worst of days and my fatigue is through the roof, all I have to do is will myself to stand on the thing for fifteen minutes.

I would recommend whole-body vibration therapy for anyone out there, regardless of MS or not. There are some contraindications, so check with your physician or therapists beforehand. Or, at the very least read the fine print before getting on one. I recommend starting at a slow speed and gradually working your way to more intense workouts. Also, make sure you have a slight bend in your knees if standing on the plate. This will keep your body from being jarred to pieces and also engage your muscles better.

I am not affiliated with LifePro or Amazon. It was simply the unit I found that I thought would be worth trying. There are lots of options out there. Units like the one I have can start for as low as $65. There are other units that run into the thousands of dollars range. Some gyms even provide them, so maybe you can test one before making the investment.

Best wishes. If you use one already or decide to try one out, let me know about your experience!