In early 2021, I underwent surgery on my left big toe joint due to significant arthritis and cartilage tears. Just three months later, I had the same procedure done on my right big toe. The big toe joints are crucial for walking, maintaining balance, and allowing our feet to integrate with our core for overall stability. Over the following two years, I used various rehabilitation methods to improve my neuromuscular control, restore the integration of my toes with the rest of my body . I had three primary goals: improve neuromuscular control, strengthen bones and enhance stability.
I tried two different custom orthotics, three different styles of running shoes, and consistent rehab. Among the various tools, the OOV stood out as one of the best rehabilitation tools I used, though it wasn’t a complete fix.
The Role of Big Toe Joints in Balance and Stability
Our big toes play an essential role in balance, movement, and even how our feet connect to our core called neuromuscular control. Without the proper function of these joints, everyday tasks like walking and running become more challenging, increasing the risk of further injury.
Introducing Jon Pelles
In the fall of 2023, I began working with Jon Pelles, owner of Rebar in Northfield, IL, using the bioDensity machine and Power Plate for bone health. I was recently diagnosed with osteopenia, a condition of low bone density, and sought ways to improve bone health. Surprisingly, this felt like the missing piece of the puzzle in finalizing the integration of my big toes with the rest of my body. Since starting, I’ve felt stronger and more stable.
Jon Pelles is a certified practitioner of the bioDensity machine and the Power Plate, and he owns Rebar in Northfield, IL. These machines, while primarily aimed at individuals with osteopenia or osteoporosis, are beneficial for anyone at any age. Most of Jon’s clients are women with osteoporosis or osteopenia, but the machines are versatile enough to help a range of people improve strength, stability, and bone health as well as a rehab tool for injury.
How BioDensity and Power Plate Work for Bone Health
BioDensity Machine
The bioDensity machine is designed to reverse osteoporosis without medication. Available for public use since 2010, this device allows clients to perform four isometric exercises that target all major muscle groups by placing multiple loads of body weight on the musculoskeletal system. Clients use the machine once a week to prevent overstressing their bodies. The bioDensity machine is safe for most people, excluding those with acute injuries, which are evaluated before each session.
Power Plate
The Power Plate is a vibrating platform that moves in three dimensions—up/down, side/side, and forward/backward. This stimulates the body’s deep stabilizing muscles in a controlled way to improve training benefits. Clients perform a range of exercises, including squat holds, planks, step-ups, heel raises, and bicep curls, among others. The frequency and duration of the exercises can be adjusted to individual needs. In addition, the Power Plate increases blood flow, boosts metabolic rate, and improves balance.
My Personal Experience: Recently, I had bicep strains and used the Power Plate directly on the biceps for just a few minutes. I was back swimming within two days, pain-free. Another time, I experienced breast soreness from a fall and needed Tylenol to sleep. After one session on the Power Plate, the majority of my pain disappeared.
While the Power Plate can be used daily, most of Jon’s clients use it once a week alongside bioDensity. However, it is important to note that it should not be used by individuals with significant cardiac issues, seizure disorders, or fractures.
Real-Life Success Stories with BioDensity and Power Plate for Bone Health
Several of Jon’s clients have experienced life-changing results using these technologies:
- Joni: After 10 years of using bioDensity, her DEXA scan showed a significant improvement—from severe osteoporosis to low osteopenia.
- Joan: At 67, Joan came to Jon with poor balance and weakness. After a year of weekly sessions, she could balance on one leg without support and even outperformed younger people on a hiking trip to Iceland.
- Mac: A 38-year-old man with severe plantar fasciitis experienced significant improvement after just one Power Plate session, allowing him to walk 18 holes on a golf course.
Jon Pelles: A Journey from Injury to Recovery
Jon’s journey with bioDensity started when his mother, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), participated in an early test of the machine 14 years before its public release. The bioDensity machine and Power Plate provided remarkable improvements in her bone strength and movement control. She even ran a marathon!
As a collegiate baseball pitcher, Jon began using these devices just before his 21st birthday to recover from back and shoulder injuries. Within a few sessions, he felt lighter on his feet and noticed improved movement fluidity. His pitching speed also increased from 78 mph to 87-91 mph within nine months. Inspired by his own results and his mother’s, Jon decided to open his own clinic, Rebar, in 2016.
Jon’s Personal Health Journey
Jon has played baseball since childhood, primarily as a pitcher. Unfortunately, he suffered multiple lumbar stress fractures at ages 10, 14, and 18. In his sophomore year of college, he tore the labrum in his right shoulder, his pitching arm. Thanks to physical therapy, including the Power Plate, he recovered faster than expected, returning to play in just two and a half months instead of the predicted nine.
“I am now 34 and have had chronic low back pain (LBP) since my initial injuries as a kid, as well as a reinjury of my right shoulder last summer, preventing me from pitching in the adult league. I began working with Denise last year, who discovered my weaknesses and poor movement patterns contributing to my chronic LBP. She prescribed specific exercises, along with hands-on work and the use of the OOV and the balansit. For the first time in my adult life, I now have many more days without LBP than bad days—even up to three weeks without LBP! In addition, I’m back to pitching five to six innings per game without shoulder or back pain flare-ups.”
Why You Should Consider BioDensity and Power Plate for Bone Health
Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing a chronic condition, or simply aiming to stay strong and active, these technologies offer a powerful way to enhance your body’s resilience. BioDensity and Power Plate are designed to improve bone density, balance, and strength, while also helping prevent future injuries.
Are you interested in working with Jon or learning more about using the BioDensity and Power Plate for bone health? Reach out to him here!
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