Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can affect not only breathing but also muscle strength, balance, physical performance and the ability to manage everyday activities. Breathlessness can reduce physical activity, leading to further loss of lower-limb strength and exercise tolerance. The Finnish Current Care Guideline states that structured exercise rehabilitation improves physical performance and reduces symptoms and exacerbations in people with COPD. Training should include both strength and endurance exercise.
Power Plate training uses whole-body vibration to activate the muscles while individually selected exercises are performed on the platform. Short training periods and the option to use support make it a good choice when prolonged exercise feels demanding because of breathlessness. We can practise lower-limb strength, balance, rising from a chair and safe weight shifting while maintaining a calm breathing rhythm.
A 2025 meta-analysis of seven randomised trials involving 356 people with severe COPD found that whole-body vibration training improved functional capacity. In the six-minute walk test, participants in the vibration group walked an average of 41 metres farther than those in the control group. In a randomised trial involving people with severe COPD, whole-body vibration improved balance and muscular power more than conventional balance training.
Power Plate does not replace COPD medication, pulmonary rehabilitation or endurance exercise, but it is well worth incorporating alongside them as individually tailored training that supports strength, balance and functional capacity. During training, the severity of your condition, breathlessness, exercise tolerance, oxygen saturation, medication, possible oxygen therapy, balance and other medical conditions are all taken into account. Training begins when the condition is stable, and the workload is increased gradually according to how you feel.
Book an appointment for your individually tailored Power Plate training to support strength, balance and everyday functional capacity safely.
