StoriesEmpowering Recovery

Dan Cummings' Story, Power Plate, and Journey Forward's Inception: A Mission for Recovery

Dan Cummings' story is one of tenacity, willpower, and an unwavering dedication to helping others with neurological conditions and spinal cord injuries (SCI). While out on a lake with friends in 2000, Dan sustained a spinal cord injury that would change his life at the age of 19. He jumped from a boat into what he believed to be deep water, but he was immobile when he opened his eyes underwater. The doctors' diagnosis that he would never be able to walk again would have devastated some, but it strengthened Dan's resolve. In his words,

That was the best thing the doctors ever did for me.

Faced with limited rehabilitation options in the Northeast and with a brother in Los Angeles, Dan traveled across the country to a specialized facility in California. It was there that he discovered groundbreaking rehabilitation techniques, including Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) therapy using Power Plate®, which played a pivotal role in his recovery. But one question stuck with him: Why did he have to travel 3,000 miles to get the care he needed? Boston, a world-renowned medical hub, lacked a dedicated facility for long-term SCI rehabilitation.

Determined to change that, Dan and his brother worked tirelessly to establish Journey Forward, a nonprofit rehabilitation center providing specialized, ongoing recovery programs for individuals with SCI and neurological conditions. But first, Dan had to prove that this kind of training actually worked. After four years into his program, Dan defied the odds and began to walk again. He returned home to Boston, prepared to realize his dream.

Journey Forward opened its doors in 2008 thanks to unrelenting fundraising and an amazing act of generosity—an anonymous donor overheard his story and funded the $500K startup costs. With services that conventional physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) often cannot provide, Journey Forward has since become a beacon of hope for countless individuals.

Dan Cummings using Power Plate at Journey Forward
Journey Forward client training with Power Plate

Actor Mark Wahlberg, a Boston-native and good friend of Dan's brother, was an early supporter of the facility. In classic "small-world story" fashion, Mark, an avid Power Plate user for years, in 2021 became a partner in Power Plate.

The Challenges of Living with SCI and Neurological Conditions

Traditional PT and OT are restricted by insurance and only offer temporary assistance to many people with SCI. However, recovery doesn't stop after a few months. Continuous treatment is essential for challenges like bone density loss, spasticity, reduced circulation, and muscle atrophy.

In search of the facility's transformative program, Journey Forward attracts clients from all over New England and beyond, even from overseas. However, there are still financial obstacles. Many people are not as fortunate as Dan, who was able to pay for the care he received in California. For this reason, he has always placed a high premium on helping his clients financially.

The center mainly depends on donations and fundraising activities to make that possible. Since the inception of its financial aid initiative in 2013, Journey Forward has disbursed more than $600K to over 60 people, enabling them to access the care they need.

Power Plate's Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) technology is a major factor in Journey Forward's success. Dan attributes his recovery of leg strength to Power Plate, recalling how the vibrations triggered his muscles and allowed him to perform previously unthinkable movements, such as a squat without assistance.

The Benefits of WBV and the Science Behind It

Power Plate is a low intensity and low impact modality that generates precision vibrations to stimulate muscle contractions, offering significant benefits for individuals with SCI and neurological conditions:

  • Neuromuscular Activation1 — This helps activate atrophied muscles, that have been dormant, a condition known as Sarcopenia.
  • Improved Circulation & Blood Flow2 — This is important for people with restricted mobility because it improves muscle elasticity and can reduce localized tissue swelling.
  • Bone Density & Joint Health3 — Lowers the risk of osteoporosis by preventing bone loss.
  • Functional Recovery4 — Research indicates that WBV promotes reflexive movement and neuroplasticity, two essential components of rehabilitation.

For individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), WBV has been shown to:

  • Improved strength, balance, and muscular endurance5
  • Improved fine motor coordination and functional mobility6

Journey Forward incorporates Power Plate into all its programs, customizing its use to each client's unique needs. For lower-functioning individuals, WBV helps with spasticity reduction, circulation improvement, and bone density support, while higher-functioning clients use it to build strength and coordination.

Success Stories and the Future of Rehab Technology

Amazing transformations have occurred at Journey Forward. After being told they would never be able to walk again, some clients have recovered their strength, independence, and even mobility. One particularly memorable case involved a paralyzed man from Uganda, who, following rigorous training at the center, left on crutches. "Of course, that becomes our main goal when someone is told they will never walk again," Dan says. "However, a lot of things come before that. We assist them in becoming independent again. Many clients have reached significant life milestones, such as being able to dress themselves, feed themselves, and even drive again."

Dan thinks that as artificial intelligence, exoskeletons, and robotics continue to advance, rehabilitation will also change. Immediate innovations are concentrated on incorporating state-of-the-art assistive technologies into therapy programs to improve recovery outcomes, even as the search for a cure continues.

Words of Advice for Those Facing SCI

Dan offers simple yet impactful advice to people who are just dealing with a SCI: "Take it one day at a time." Both good and bad days will occur. But for that one day, you must give it your all. Don't lose sight of the goal and keep moving forward.

This sentiment is echoed by Journey Forward clients, who talk about how the program has transformed their lives. Every step taken at Journey Forward is one toward increased independence, from experiencing the demanding but rewarding Power Plate REV® adaptive bike to learning newfound strength with Power Plate's proMOTION™ cable resistance system.

How You Can Support Journey Forward

As a nonprofit, Journey Forward operates 365 days a year, relying on donations and corporate sponsorships to sustain its mission. Ways to help include:

  • Attending fundraising events like their annual Casino Night, the Boston Marathon, and the Falmouth Road Race
  • Making one-time or recurring donations
  • Spreading awareness to those who could benefit from the program

Through dedication, innovation, and a strong community, Journey Forward continues to redefine what's possible for those with spinal cord injuries — proving that recovery doesn't end when traditional therapy does. It's a lifelong journey forward.

For more information on how to incorporate into your rehabilitation centers, gyms or even your home, check out powerplate.com

Download Journey Forward

References

  1. Wu S, Ning HT, Xiao SM, Hu MY, Wu XY, Deng HW, Feng H. Effects of vibration therapy on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2020 Dec 17 12/17:14. doi: 10.1186/s11556-020-00247-5. PMID: 32963629; PMCID: PMC7499918.
  2. Mahbub MH, Hiroshige K, Yamaguchi N, Hase R, Harada N, Tanabe T. A systematic review of studies investigating the effects of controlled whole-body vibration intervention on peripheral circulation. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2019 Nov;39(6):363-377. doi: 10.1111/cpf.12589. Epub 2019 Jul 29. PMID: 31278826.
  3. Bonanni R, Cariati I, Romagnoli C, D'Arcangelo G, Annino G, Tancredi V. Whole Body Vibration: A Valid Alternative Strategy to Exercise? J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2022 Nov 3;7(4):99. doi: 10.3390/jfmk7040099. PMID: 36412761; PMCID: PMC9680512.
  4. Lee A, Kim H, Kim J, Choi DS, Jung JH, Lee J, Kim YH. Modulating Effects of Whole-body Vibration on Cortical Activity and Gait Function in Chronic Stroke Patients. Brain Neurorehabil. 2020 Mar 26;13(2):e12. doi: 10.12786/bn.2020.13.e12. PMID: 36741484; PMCID: PMC9879458.
  5. Castillo-BuenoI, Ramos-Campo DJ, Rubio-Arias JA. Effects of whole-body vibration training in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. Neurologia (Engl Ed). 2018 Oct;33(8):534-548. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2016.04.007. Epub 2016 Jul 19. PMID: 27444852.
  6. Krause A, Lee K, König D, Faist M, Freyler K, Gollhofer A, Ritzmann R. Six weeks of whole-body vibration improves fine motor accuracy, functional mobility and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. PLoS One. 2022 Jul 11;17(7):e0270698. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270698. PMID: 35816473; PMCID: PMC9273076.