Posts Tagged ‘Therapy’

Vibration Training and Type 2 Diabetes

July 11th, 2011

Almost every day we read newspaper articles telling us how adversely our modern lifestyle is affecting our health. Obesity and along with it, type 2 diabetes is a serious problem and it affects us all. Even if you have kept normal weight, are healthy, eat good foods, and exercise regularly there will be people in your family, work or friends network that are affected – it’s like an epidemic or a virus that’s spreading out of control through the world, almost unchecked or so it seems when looking at the increasing numbers.

Are you affected or at risk? What can be done to help reverse this trend? Does exercise help and if it does what type of exercise is safe and won’t mean having to spend hours at the gym or running round and round the path at the park?

Of course most readers will know I’m going to say Vibration Training is one of the best answers but is it really okay; what about people who already have health problems? Maybe you or the person you know has aches in their knees or hips and they’ve tried other forms of exercise but had to stop as it made the problems worse. Maybe they are quite overweight and unable to walk to the letterbox without puffing and becoming short of breath.

Maybe they’ve tried a gym, even worked with a personal trainer but couldn’t find the motivation to keep it up. They could have done a 6 week BootCamp and despite it being very hard and getting some injuries or painful areas, they pushed on and completed the course. They got good results but then thought, “who wants to keep on with BootCamp two or three times a week for the rest of their lives?” Is that even safe? And I’m talking about the people who kept going, many simply drop out. They suffer the embarrassment of being last up the hill or letting their team down by being unable to carry that heavy log while clambering up the sand dunes, in mid winter.

We all need a form of exercise that we are happy to keep doing and can safely do for a long time, for the rest of our life actually – I’ve found that Vibration Training fits these criteria and many thousands of people agree.

Are there any special precautions people with diabetes need to take when doing Vibration Training?

When using a studio with supervised instruction the type 2 diabetic customer needs to make sure the instructor knows and they need to speak up if they want to take a break between positions on the machine. There’s absolutely no problem with taking a break, walking around the room, and drinking some water. Short rests can make it easier to hold the next position correctly.

Customers need to eat a meal around an hour before their session or have a banana or similar high sugar/carbohydrate snack immediately before the session – this is the same for everyone, it’s because vibration training on high energy machines is hard work and depletes blood sugars rapidly. People who haven’t eaten for some time can become dizzy and disorientated or simply find the session very much harder and find it impossible to maintain perfect position. It could even be dangerous to drive after the session. Our number 1 rule at Vibra-Train is “Always eat before arrival”.

We advise diabetic customers to take a blood sugar reading before training to ensure it is adequate and to take another reading within 30 minutes of the end of their session. This shows if they need to eat again or (unlikely), if they need insulin (that’s if they use injectable). Those who don’t normally test their blood sugar but take tablets daily will be aware of how they are feeling and will know if they need extra food soon after their workout. Its good for everyone to eat some protein based foods within an hour or so after their workout.

So, will I lose lots of weight and get off my tablets or injections?

The short answer is, “all of that is possible”, but remember its taken years to become badly overweight and so it’s going to take some time to get long term improvement. The good news is we see shape change (waist indents etc) starting in just 3 or 4 weeks and it just keeps getting better!

No-one should ever stop their medication or adjust it without their doctor’s advice. Never listen to any trainer (any sport, gym, or studio) who tells you to change or stop your medication; this is a matter for you and your medical advisors. Sometimes trainers will give you a few diet ideas, usually only if you ask or you are already talking about these things, remember that it is advice only and the decisions are yours, and if you are on medication never go onto a special or popular diet without your doctor or other medical advisors knowing.

Exercise is extremely beneficial for people who are obese, even clinically obese, and for people with type 2 diabetes. The hardest part is actually getting started!

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Posted in Benefits, Vibration Training

Tags: Customers Disabilities Fat-loss Results Therapy Weight-loss

Senior Citizens can do Vibration Training

February 11th, 2011

This is a question I get asked quite often. The phone rings in the Vibra-Train studio and a lady tells me she wants to start coming in regularly but lives across town. There’s a studio near to her home so I direct her there. She says she has been into the studio where I work but not for a few years and she’s retired now and wants to spend some time improving her fitness. She asks me if she will need a special program now that she’s 60 and “old”.

My first reaction is to laugh as I don’t see 60 as old but I stifle that as I realise that she’s totally serious and besides most gyms have senior citizens programs for 60 years and above. There’s good reason for that, taking care of aging muscles and your heart can require going a little easier but health and fitness professionals recommend you continue exercise all your life. When discussing forms of excercise with customers or people coming into the studio for a trial visit Lloyd Shaw of Vibra-Train says,“Don’t begin any exercise you can’t continue for the rest of your life”.

This year we’ve had quite a lot of older people come into the Auckland City Vibra-Train Studio and from the phone call enquiries I’ve taken I’d say other studios have also.

So do these older people use a special training program?

The short answer is No! the Vibra-Train Safety Program was designed to take into account the worse case scenario – it’s safe and very effective for just about everyone and just about everyone who comes into the studio where I work does the same program. There are ways we extend the program for those who are proficient and hold excellent position on the machines; they can do some positions for longer or use a higher level machine. And there are ways to make it easier for those who would otherwise find it all too difficult. This is not necessarily seniors; most do the regular program.

Vibra-Train has the only vibration machines in the world with vibrating side handlebars.

These are so amazing; they allow people with hip, knee and ankle problems and people who are obese and need extra support to use the machines in squat positions in a totally safe, controlled way.

So, you might ask, what about the person who is unsteady on their feet, those who are wheelchair bound or even what if someone is just plain scared of the vibration feeling of the machines? The handlebars allow many people to use the machines well supported in a squat position. This might be the only position a less-abled person does on their first few visits. Repeated three of four times it gives plenty of stimulation to muscles throughout the whole body – remember the handlebars vibrate as well as the platform. It also gives improved blood circulation, relaxation and much more, so much that some people walk in stooped over and walk out straightened up.

The wheelchair bound and the few people who really are unsure of the feeling of the machines are able to sit in front of a machine and by placing their feet on the front edge of the platform (with or without a rubber mat under them) they receive stimulation to their legs and buttocks. This brings real benefits to those who have little or no active leg control (but that’s for another time).

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Posted in Benefits, Experiences, Programs, Vibration Training

Tags: Customers Disabilities Experiences Therapy Users Vibra-Train

I have Diabetes Can I do Vibration Training?

February 3rd, 2011

This is a question I am asked quite often when people call the Vibra-Train studio where I work. Can people with diabetes do Vibration Training? The simple answer is YES, you can do vibration training if you have diabetes but let’s look into it a bit deeper.

People with Type-2 Diabetes are encouraged to exercise yet many don’t even try. One of the reasons is that they are often overweight and get painful knees, hips, or back if they try to run or even walk for more than a short distance. Gyms can seem very daunting despite their advertising and often very sucessful transformation/weightloss programs. And really, many people are just lazy – they don’t want to exercise, especially if it means they have to make any sort of effort beyond pressing the buttons on the TV remote and lifting the glass of Coke to their lips.

Training on high force vibration machines is safe and effective for Type-2 diabetics. At the Vibra-Train brand studios there are machines with side handlebars to hold onto; the person’s knees and hips are well supported. Vibration Training causes a rapid drop in blood glucose levels and so can be used to manage glycemic control. It’s highly effective strength and fitness training and by raising the metabolism and building muscle strength body fat is decreased.

It also helps with muscle uptake and storage of glucose and can sometimes mean the difference between “medicinal” or “lifestyle” control of type 2 diabetes and, very importantly, it helps those with impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes). My own experience has been exactly this. My blood sugar at fasting or spot checks is now absolutely normal.

Some Vibra-Train customers are Type-1 diabetics. This requires different management. These customers always eat before training (it’s the Number One on the “Rules @ Vibra-Train” list for everyone anyway). They test their blood sugar before and after and tell me just 10-12 minutes of training using the Vibra-Train Safety Program really eats through their blood glucose. We ask these customers to make sure they bring a snack with them and whatever other supplies they might need. Some vibration training companies list Type-1 Diabetes as a contra-indication to training but I can’t see any problem with it as long as the person has some stability and control over their condition. Obviously their doctor will advise them if exercise is not suitable for them at any time.

I have a current customer who has fairly recently been diagnosed with sudden onset, adult, Type-1 diabetes. This is less common but it happens. She told me that she was incorrectly diagnosed as Type-2 at first and now that’s been corrected she’s setting into the correct regime of injectable insulin to manage it. She’s enjoying coming in to Vibra-Train’s Auckland City Studio – it’s fast, effective excercise she can do and I’m really interested to watch her progress.

Vibration Training is an excellent addition to lifestyle modification for people with Diabetes.

Please remember to inform your instructor. They will then be more aware of subtle signs that show if you’re feeling dizzy; if your blood sugar drops too suddenly. Also that in the very unlikely event that you do faint, they know to call for medical assistance immediately.

A medical study: Efficiency of vibration exercise for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients

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Posted in Benefits, Experiences, Vibration Training, Women, health

Tags: Disabilities Effort Fat-loss Fitness health Results Therapy Users

Vibration Training – Fitness Training – Back at it!

October 22nd, 2010

My posts have been infrequent for a few months as I’ve had some health ups and downs. A small operation in late May went wrong and I received what is now politely called a “Treatment Injury”. Basically it means someone stuffed up! This resulted in a more extensive surgery early June, a long period of recovery and a lot of pain. I’m left with some internal injuries still and expect to have more surgery again quite soon to complete my treatment.

What has this meant for me? Have I been able to vibra train? What about my fitness? What about my weight, has it zoomed upward?

After any big operation there’s a recovery time during which exercise is generally limited to short walks and no lifting or stretching. I had no choice with that but after a few weeks I was eager to regain my strength so I visited my workplace and was allowed to sit on a chair in front of the Vibration Machine with my feet resting just on the edge of a rubber mat on the platform, my legs bent at about 110 degree angle at the knees. The machine was turned on for three minutes.

This position requires zero effort and gently increases blood circulation so you feel quite awake. It can even stimulate some small amount of muscle contraction in the legs and buttocks. Obviously that’s all good for healing but a lot of care is needed even with this minimal effort position and one person will respond differently to another. It’s unusual but I found It gave me a discomfort in the pelvic region where I’d had surgery and I had to wait a few more weeks.

By then I was wanting to get back onto the machines and do some real training – Again I had to be guided by my healing progress. Using 3 layers of rubber mat on the machine platform I was able to do the special “ski the slopes” position. It was great for me as by using the side vibrating handlebars (only on Vibra-Train brand machines) I was able to get an upper body workout while gently working out my lower body; cutting the amount of vibration by using the mats on the platform and by using arm pressure, pushing down on the handlebars with my hands, to take pressure off my legs and pelvic area.

I continued doing only the “ski the slopes” position for 60 seconds, firstly just once, then three times, then up to six times using the lowest force machine in the Vibra-Train studio. Three times a week, just like regular training, I continued this regime for a month and then added in a few other poses. I lessened the mats under my feet from three down to two and over the next weeks progressed to the full Safety Program.

The process seemed slow and as I’m a Vibration Training Instructor I wanted to get back onto the machines very quickly BUT my healing and safety comes first.

It’s taken over three months to get back to strength and full healing and now I am fit it’s a bit sad that I have to face the process all over again but “cest la vie”.

I feel very fortunate to be working with the world’s best Vibration Training Machines here at Vibra-Train, Auckland City.

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Posted in Experiences, Instructor, Programs, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training, health

Tags: Disabilities Experiences Safety Program Therapy Vibra-Train Women

Vibration Training Instructors

August 10th, 2010

In my last post I reported having many new customers coming into the Vibra-Train studio where I work. This can make my day very exciting and also challenging as I instruct these new users and put them through The Safety Program, introducing them to safe and effective Pure Vibration Training and answering any questions they have. I like to leave them with a great impression of what training on high-force, lineal machines can do for them – increasing their fitness and toning their body, along with strength increases and maybe fat-loss and much more, depending on what the person needs. The benefits are too many to list in one sentence!

We often talk about the different machine types and brands available and the Vibra-Train difference.

I worked on Sunday, and two new customers had specific back injuries that required me to make decisions about their ability to follow the standard safety program. I have the option of giving them fully assisted (side vibrating handlebars) squats so that their lower back, hips, knees and ankles have even more support and allowing them work through the whole program; or, if necessary, they can do only the side handlebar assisted squats, that’s if their medical condition or severity of injury suggests they will be unable to do the regular program.

I have to make the choice. I’ve gained experience in this and I can always refer back to Lloyd Shaw, the owner of Vibra-Train if I am really unsure but he expects me to be competent in this by now. Sometimes I wait and and then decide from how well they handle Position 1 – The Basic Squat – getting them to use the side handlebars instead of front ones, but even before that very first first position, I’ll be thinking and deciding as they’ve filled in a questionaire and we’ll have discussed their health or injury concerns.

Confidence is the thing - I can make the right decisions for these customers. I can decide if they can follow a Training program or is they need to start with Vibration Therapy. It’s really not hard to decide! I err on the side of caution but I don’t want to send a customer away disappointed because they could have done more.

So, yesterday’s customers – one had a severe lower back problem and had expected to have surgery but was declined by our national accident insurance system. Despite her injury being the result of an accident there was an element of degenerative plus overuse issues. She was hoping her private medical insurance would help pay for the needed surgery and told me she was currently unable to lift up and carry her 18 month old toddler. It was quickly obvious that she was not able to work through the full program so she did a simple set of side handlebar assisted squats and will come back in few days to tell us how she felt afterwards and then we may increase what she does – She did Vibration Therapy.

The other customer with lower back and knee pain arrived later in the day. Her injuries resulted from years of working in childcare squatting on the floor while she played with children and picking them up from the ground. I thought she would be able to do the full Safety Program using the side handlebars for support in the squat positions. Then as my boss walked into the studio I decided to ask his advice. Lloyd (my boss) took over and put the customer through the program and I observed. She did the full program – Vibration Training. I noticed she was putting her body weight onto her toes not balanced onto heels and toes. This was what was causing her back and knee pain as it was the way she regularly squatted down when playing with young children. Lloyd pointed this out to her and told her how much she would benefit from the Vibra-Train Safety Program; with an instructor supervising her sessions she would quickly learn to keep her heels down and take the pressure off her knees, also keeping her back neutral and relaxed.

I love it when I see Vibration Training giving such benefits that will change a young person’s life so dramatically. I’m excited to be able to watch this new customer’s progress.

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Posted in Benefits, Instructor, Programs, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training, health

Tags: Brands Disabilities Handlebars Instructor Results Safety Program Therapy Training Women

More FAT people, Morbidly Obese people need help.

June 17th, 2010

Wow, I expect to get flack for even daring use this title for my article but it has to be said often so that we all take notice – In my country and in many others we have a serious obesity problem. No, let me rephrase that – we have a seriously large number of clinically and morbidy obese people and that causes many problems – actually for those people and for us all.

It’s no good criticising a person who is obese, that solves nothing! How they got that way isn’t the issue. We do need to look at the causes and move to prevention but for those already obese, they need help to lose fat and regain control over their lives.

Last night I watched a New Zealand TV documentary about the need to provide stomach stapling operations. They have a high sucess rate and are life-saving for manyof the people who have them. The program profiled some of the people who are unable to get this operation because they live in parts of New Zealand where the district health board does not provide it and no matter how much they plead neighbouring health boards will not agree to help them. This “sucks!”; to use a local slang term. These people are not able to get the potentially life saving help they need.

Well I have some good news for people who need help to lose fat; all who are overweight, clinically obese (as I was just a few years ago), and those who have become morbidly obese – Vibration Training can help. It’s really effective as a start to exercise and then ongoing to provide strength and fitness. Depending on the quality and type of machine used results vary and I recommend that people try to get into a specialised studio but not every area has Vibration Training studios. Home machines though can be great as a start if you buy the right one and there’s lots of help and information available.

A good place to get info is www.vibration-training-advice.com There are many articles for consumers and also more detailed ones for those in the fitness or health industries and anyone who wants to understand more. There’s also a forum where questions can be asked so that info in the articles can be explained if needed.

Of course, my website also has many simple, short articles that provide entry level information.

Vibration Training is safe and effective for overweight and obese people. It is however essential to get the help of a trainer who works with these machines or to learn about the positions and safety before using the machine at home. Never be afraid to ask for help and don’t just rely on the page of instructions that may come with the machine you might buy.

For upright vibration/lineal machines the Vibra-Train Safety Program is the standard. If the program is too difficult or a simpler start is wanted, the user can do an assisted squat, holding onto whatever handlebars the machine has, and simply repeat that position a number of times. It’s all about getting started, increasing blood flow and mobility.

For pivotal/see-saw motion machines there’s no standard program; the user can simply stand on the machine, perform a slight or deeper squat or other positions that they are able to hold.

Read the websites, ask for help and get started. Some Vibration Studios even offer sponsored or subsidised sessions for people with morbid obesity or other life-threatening conditions. The first step can be just a phone call.

Depending on the quality and type of machine used results vary and I recommend that people try to get into a specialised studio but not every area has Vibration Training studios. Home machines though can be great as a start if you buy the right one and there’s lots of help and information available.A good place to get info is www.vibration-training-advice.com There are many articles for consumers and also more detailed ones for those in the fitness or health industries and anyone who wants to understand more. There’s also a forum where questions can be asked so that info in the articles can be explained if needed.

Of course, my website also has many simple, short articles that provide entry level information.

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Posted in Benefits, Vibration Training, Women, health

Tags: Fat-loss Fitness health home machines Therapy Users Weight-loss Women

The Gymform Vibromax TV Advertorial

May 12th, 2010

A year ago I wrote an article which was published firstly on blogcritics website and later on www.vibration-training-advice.com. It was titled “An Elite Athlete Discovers Vibration Training” and followed the sucesses of Teneka, a New Zealand personal trainer who added “high energy, lineal Vibration Training” to her already extensive workout program and went on to win Body Sculpting titles. She stated that it was the x-factor, her training at Vibra-Train that gave her the edge in strength and body shape, over her competitors.

Teneka recently took part in an video advertorial that’s showing quite often on morning television. She states how much Vibration Training has done for her and credits it to the advertorial machine – the Gymform Vibromax (a lowspeed pivotal machine, much like the VibraSlim, see: www.vibration-training-advice.com/machine-reviews).

Gymform Vibromax Pivotal Vibration Machine We all know that advertisements contain hyperbole and infomercials are rarely to be believed but I’ve been told that this advertorial looks credible; being promoted by an obviously fit, slim, competition winning, personal trainer. In fact the whole advert is deceptive and it’s format lacks any integrity. It is aimed at people who need to lose weight and gain fitness and says this is possible by simply standing upright on the machine while watching television.

That is not true; It isn’t going to happen and it’s important to set the record straight.

Read my full article here: www.vibration-training-advice.com/you-just-can-t-trust-anyone

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Posted in Brands, Experiences, Marketing, Vibration Training

Tags: Brands Effort Experiences Fat-loss Fitness home machines Pivotal Results Therapy

Disabilities and Vibration Machines in the Studio

February 18th, 2010

Some of the customers at the Vibra-Train studio where I work have disabilities. No, I don’t just mean they don’t listen when I instruct them or forget the poses from one session to the next I mean they have real physical and/or mental disabilities and they come in two or three times a week (same as other customers) to workout on the vibration machines or to do a vibration therapy session.

One of these customers has been very regular lately, coming three times each week no matter if he’s feeling well or having a “bad” day where he can barely get out of bed. On Wednesday he came into the studio very slowly, stooped over and saying he hadn’t come the previous day as he’d been too unwell but he didn’t want to miss his session so he’d come in today despite quite bad muscle aches from his condition.

While I can feel some empathy I didn’t dwell on his illness instead telling him firmly, “Okay, now get onto the machine and let’s do your work-out”.

Later he thanked me and said that’s the reason he’d come in despite feeling very achy. He knew he’d get no special treatment or allowances from me but would be expected to do the Safety Program to the best of his ability. In his case he is only able to do a Basic Squat position supported by holding onto the side handlebars of the Level 2 Vibra machine. Because of his condition he can’t always manage the 60 seconds of the squat so we do as long as he can hold the position perfectly with three repeats. This means he drives his car or gets someone else to drive him 20km across town for just three times 30-60 second squats.

What does this tell you? Obviously Vibration Therapy is working for him.

And yesterday he thanked me for pushing him so hard, for expecting him to put in his best effort and for not dwelling on what he can’t do but on what he can. He’s come to understand that he will feel discomfort during the squats on the machines but that this is no different to what every customer feels. In many ways he’s simply a regular customer. And the bonus of expecting his best effort yesterday, he asked for and was able to do a fourth squat position instead of the three he normally does. He left feeling fatigued but mentally enlivened, knowing he’d have to rest for a few hours but would feel more flexible and alert the next day. This is the benefit for him, not a cure but a way to strengthen weakened muscles and a path to improved overall fitness physically and mentally.

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Posted in Benefits, Instructor, Uncategorized, health

Tags: Disabilities Handlebars Therapy

Monkey Business

October 1st, 2009

It’s been said that a monkey could be trained to be a Vibration Training Instructor. So does that mean instructors don’t ever have to think?

Not at all! The statement that a monkey could be taught to instruct reflects the simplicity of the 1-2-3-4 steps that are necessary to get into each position on the machine.

Push Up:

Kneel in front of unit.
Place hands on outside edge of mat.
Drop pelvis so a straight line is made between knees and shoulders.
When machine starts, drop body halfway towards plate. Make sure hands are in line with chest, not shoulders.
Look down towards knees (very important) as looking up even for a second can cause stress to neck area.
Hold pose and relax for duration of exercise.

The Instructor’s job begins before the customer ever gets near the machine. For a newcomer there’s the pre-training health screen to be filled in and discussed, then a quick introduction to vibration training before the customer begins their session. Regular customers get a greeting and a quick catch up if they haven’t been in for a while.

It’s very important that customers tell the instructor of any injuries or health concerns they have so the instructor can be vigilant in watching over them in poses that might impact on those areas; if necessary correcting them or even moving them to an alternate version of the position, or to another machine. An example of this is using a machine with side handle bars for support when a customer has a knee injury; when using the Safety Program the position, known as “Ski the Slopes” (the position resembles a skier going downhill) replaces the regular “Super Squat”. Using side handle bars allows the customer with knee injury to maintain perfect position and get full benefit from training. With a perfect 110° vibration training squat they are helping their knees to heal and their core to strengthen.

So could a trained monkey work as a vibration training instructor? Just to assist most customers into correct position, the answer would have to be, yes!

One big difference between a trained monkey and a good instructor is the ability to ensure customers with special needs get the attention they need and so get all the benefits of vibration training or therapy without risk. I doubt a monkey is able to do this. In the future will we see studios with just one human instructor and a staff of intelligent androids?

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Posted in Industry, Instructor, Programs, health

Tags: Effort health Instructor Safety Program Therapy Training Users

Vibration Training for people with disabilities

June 23rd, 2009

A mother and her adult son are frequent visitors to the vibration training studio where I work.

For the mother it’s a chance to have just a little time-out while doing her work-out as I work with her son. Mother gains all the benefits of vibration training on the level 2 high force platform named the Bullet while her son uses the platform that has side handlebars.

It’s a slow process as Jack (name changed to protect identity) walks across the room taking in his suroundings. He’s very tall and sometimes walks with a slight stoop. An obsession with spaceships and travel makes for interesting, if sometimes a little incoherant, conversation. When he reaches the machine he steps up very slowly and deliberately and gets into position to do an assisted squat; assisted as he uses the side handlebars to help support his weight, taking some of the pressure of his hips and legs, and also helping him stay in position as his disabilities make him less able.

Jack is easy to work with and is able to do about half of the regular program. He tries to get into each position correctly and I take care to be slow and careful with him, talking to him as I know he understands me even though he babbles on about other things some days. He likes to look over at the reception desk and is interested in the computer screen.

When he finishes his workout on the lineal vibration machine including as many repeats of the assisted squat as he is able and willing to do, some times three or four, Jack walks back across the room, this time holding his head up high and his body more upright, and he then stands on a small pivotal platform for 5-10 minutes. This also helps with his posture and walking ability and his mother told me that the program overall is helping deter nocturnal enuresis.