A new study has found that certain roller coaster rides have a nearly 70 percent success rate in dislodging smaller kidney stones.
Scientists have uncovered an unusual way to dislodge kidney stones.
A new study led by Michigan State University has found that "riding a roller coaster helps patients pass kidney stones with nearly...70 percent success rate."
David Wartinger, one of the paper’s authors, explains the research began following patients' reports that their stones were suspended in urine after riding a coaster at Walt Disney World.
As part of the study, the researchers took a 3D model of a kidney containing smaller stones to the theme park’s Big Thunder Mountain 20 times.
Wartinger notes, “...sitting in the last car of the roller coaster showed about a 64 percent passage rate, while sitting in the first few cars only had a 16 percent success rate.”
A second phase of research involving different kidney models and kidney stones yielded a success rate of almost 70 percent while sitting in the back of Big Thunder Mountain; two other coasters were tested but failed.
Wartinger explains, “The ideal coaster is rough and quick with some twists and turns, but no upside down or inverted movements.”
