Definition and Symptoms
Arthritis is in fact a collective term for over 200 different disorders of the locomotor apparatus, also known as rheumatic diseases. This includes not only the joints, but also the muscles, tendons, capsules and connective tissues. Some general features of all rheamatic disorders: constant pain and stiffness (with different patterns of both location and pain depending on the specific disease) pain in muscles and joints, and swelling of one or more joints. Arthritis is one of the most prevalent common diseases. Millions of people all over the world suffer from arthritis, in some countries as many as 1 in 3 adults. About a third of these patients have a chronic disorder, meaning for at least 6 months continuously.

Arthritis and concerns for exercise
For many arthritic disorders, heat, massages and exercises for posture and movement can help manage the pain. Physical therapy may alleviate pain and stiffness, prevent deformities due to fusion of tissues or the formation of bone spurs and increase muscle strength, coordination and stamina. To reduce the compliants and other consequences of the disease, doctors will often prescribe pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines will often cause a marked regression of complaints, but they also have many unpleasant side effects such as stomach and intestinal complaints, seriously affecting the quality of life. Besides, in some cases even stronger drugs will be needed to suppress the pain.

Arthritis and the Power Plate

• Exercising and training on the Power Plate will stimulate the cartilage, making it possible to retain its normal function.
• The vibration of the Power Plate will cause an improvement of the circulation in the entire body, and will also stimulate a process known as 'capillarization' (groth of the capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in our body, providing our tissue with blood and oxygen)
• Exercise and training on the Power Plate in particular, will ensure that the synovial fluid, and consequently the cartilage, receives more oxygen and more nutrients.
• The muscle pump will stimulate the lymph drainage and thus increase the speed and efficiency with which all of the waste products are removed, such as those produced by inflammations, uric acis or the waste that is caused by the constant wear and tear of the cartilage in arthrosis
• The possibility to train the muscles, ligaments and tendons without excessively loading them. Every kind of exercise is worthwhile, mainly to prevent rigidity of the joints and make sure that the daily activities can be performed
• Strengthening the muscles, for example around the spinal column, will make sure the patient's posture improves and he/she will have less problems with activities of daily living. Exercise will also make the muscles more flexible, reducing pain in the long run and thus improving the quality of life even further

What to avoid
In case of inflammatory arthritis, training on a Power Plate should be avoided in case of a flare up, since the vibration can cause an increase in circulation and temperature in an area that is already hot and inflamed. In arthritis caused by wear and tear where the cartilage is damaged, it is best to avoid performing strength training exercises on the Power Plate using a high amplitude and higher frequency settings, in order to avoid excessive stress to a joint that no longer has the structure and function to absorb shocks. Because patients with arthritis can have good days and bad days, forcing the same training routine on your client each time he/she uses the Power Plate is not a good idea. It may be necessary to adjust the intensity level and the selection of exercises on a daily basis when working with clients with arthritis.