Lifestyle
Kidney Stones May Pass with Roller Coaster Rides New Research Suggests
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association says that there might be an amusing way to rid oneself of kidney stones. Their recently published study explains that after riding the Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster in Disney World 20 times, an artificially made kidney model showed that small stones had moved well along their path to pass, even after just 3 to 4 rides.
The experiment was done with fake kidney stones in a silicone model held in the roller coaster rider’s backpack. Interestingly, it did make a difference where the rider sat. The back seats provided more movement externally, and therefore internally as well.
The researcher doesn’t think this method would work for people who have stones larger than 4 to 5 mm, but procedures can break up the stones into smaller, more passable sizes so methods like riding roller coasters have a better chance of working.
IBTimes.com reports that the professor emeritus of urology at Michigan State University, Dr. David Wartinger, plans on continuing to research this topic by trying out more rides and logging their varying results. Wartinger notes that he has an annual pass to Universal Studios, so perhaps the next ride and results will be even more thrilling than the findings at Big Thunder Mountain.
