EAST LANSING, MI (WCMH) – Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a thrilling, and pain-free way, that might help some people pass kidney stones.

Dr. David Wartinger and Dr. Marc Mitchell had patients tell them about passing kidney stones after riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World and seen accounts of people who passed stones while bungee jumping and riding other roller coasters.

The two headed straight to Orlando to see if the stories were just that, or if they had medical grounds.

Armed with an artificial human kidney loaded with real kidney stones, they rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 20 times. The simulated kidney was with them on the ride, secured at kidney height in a backpack. The vibrations and turns from the ride were enough to knock the stones out. They found that riding in the back of the roller coaster train did a better job than sitting in the front. They have since performed the test about 200 times and the findings are consistent.

Wartinger told NBC News that different amusement park rides could have the same effect.

“It’s not like there is anything unique about this one coaster,” he said.

Wartinger also said that small kidney stones are key for the roller coaster to work because bigger stones could get stuck.

“That’s when you feel like you are giving birth to a porcupine,” he said.