Could riding roller coasters help you pass kidney stones?

Conclusion This experimental study assessed going on roller coasters as a means of passing kidney stones. Prior to this study there had been a number of reports that riding on roller coasters had caused people to pass their kidney stones, with one person claiming to have passed three kidney stones after three consecutive rides on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster at Disney World in Florida. The researchers found a similar effect using their model, and also saw that the seating position on the ride made a big difference, with almost four times the number of stones passing in the rear of the ride compared to the front. There are a number of limitations to this research: The study used an anatomical model of the kidney rather than actual people. This will never truly replicate the behaviour of the stones in a real kidney. The model was based on a single person with kidney stones. The anatomy of this person's kidney will not be the same as other peoples' because the anatomy of an individual's kidneys is unique, much like a fingerprint. Only a single roller coaster was used. The same effect may not be seen on other rides with different characteristics. However, as the research team told the media, this was an initial study to validate the effectiveness of the model and support the case for further research. Some symptoms of kidney stones to be aware of are: a persistent ache in the lower back periods of intense pain in the back or side of your abd...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news