Vibration therapy entails standing, sitting or lying down on a machine that emits vibration signals into body tissues and tendons to induce muscle contractions and enhance balance, co-ordination and strength.
Research demonstrates whole-body vibration (WBV) is effective at increasing explosive power and raising kinesthetic awareness, as well as decreasing muscle soreness after exercise, reestablishing full range of motion, restoring full range of motion after training sessions, and increasing creatine kinase production.
Increased Blood Flow
This therapy involves standing, sitting or lying down on an apparatus that oscillates at low frequencies and emitting vibrations that travel through body tissues, tendons and muscles to cause muscle contractions, thus improving muscle mass and coordination as well as bone density. One theory behind these vibrations suggests they stimulate bone formation through increased osteoblast production – creating stronger bones thus helping prevent bone loss or fractures.
Vibration plate therapy has been shown to increase blood flow to operating muscles and surrounding tissues, aiding cellular repair and tissue remodeling processes. Furthermore, this increased circulation helps deliver oxygen directly to cells while simultaneously eliminating metabolic wastes, decreasing inflammation and swelling and relieving pain in patients recovering from muscle injury or chronic muscle damage or suffering fibromyalgia symptoms. It may also help control delayed onset muscle soreness while improving performance. Lower frequency vibration with high amplitude for 30+ seconds has proven particularly effective at alleviating pain while improving tissue extensibility in recovering patients recovering from muscle injury, chronic muscle damage or fibromyalgia symptoms as well as control delayed onset muscle soreness while improving performance in recovering patients undergoing rehabilitation programs or during recovery from muscle injury recovery or chronic muscle damage or chronic damage and enhance performance during recovery from injuries caused by myalgia symptoms – helping alleviate pain relief while improving tissue extensibility whilst controlling delayed onset muscle soreness as well as improving performance during rehabilitation programs used post injury or post treatment in controlling delayed onset muscle soreness and improving performance outcomes post rehabilitation programs post injury, chronic damage or fibromyalgia treatment as controlling delayed onset muscle soreness post injury or muscle damage recovery and helping control delayed onset muscle soreness post injury recovery post surgery or post surgery recovery from other illnesses related conditions fibromyalgia treatment programs /fibromyalgia treatment as controlling delays fibromyalgia muscle soreness post rehabilitation while controlling delayed fibromyalgia or treating it preventative performance enhancement efforts post performance enhancement programs such as recovery/performance enhancement strategies such as delayed sore/fibromyalgia symptoms/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia/ fibromyalgiamy/fibromya/ fibromymyla (fibromy).
Mechanical stimuli generated by vibration stimulation have been found to increase proprioceptive spinal reflexes and excitatory signaling of a-motoneurons while decreasing inhibitory responses of Golgi tendon organ to the motoneuron pool, ultimately leading to improved muscle function similar to resistance training and plyometric exercises. Furthermore, vibration stimulation increases lubricant in articular cartilages as well as inhibits caspase-3 activity thereby helping preserve chondrocytes and cartilage cells as well as protecting chondrocytes and cartilages.
Vibration therapy is an innovative approach to treating and managing pain associated with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain disorder and autogenic muscle inhibition as well as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Vibration exercises may help break down scar tissues, reduce tendon adhesions, regulate tissue texture and enhance microcirculation to enable new tendon cell generation in injured areas. Although vibration therapy has no known contraindications it should not be used on patients suffering stress fractures or reactions, open wounds/rashes pregnancy, metal implants/pacemakers areas of skin trauma hypertension or those at risk for clotting issues.
Increased Muscle Strength
Vibration therapy creates muscle contractions that stimulate muscles and tendons, as well as increasing bone density. Furthermore, vibration therapy activates proprioceptors – nerve cells within muscles that help align the body – thus relaxing tight muscles that contribute to back pain relief. Whole-body vibration or localized vibration options may be available.
Vibrating the musculoskeletal system can increase muscle strength and physical performance in those who are sedentary or inactive, as well as improve balance, posture and reduce back pain. Vibration may do this through modulating stiffness levels which trigger the tonic vibration reflex in muscles and tendon tissues resulting in rapid changes in length due to activation of muscle spindles and alpha-motoneurons; and by producing an EMG response which exceeds typical values associated with voluntary muscle activity.
Increased EMG activity during vibration stimulation is associated with modulation of stiffness by the tonic vibration reflex, which is controlled by monosynaptic and polysynaptic afferent pathways. Furthermore, vibration stimulation also has endocrine effects, including increasing levels of insulin-like growth factor I and cortisol in circulation.
Studies on whole-body vibration therapy have demonstrated its ability to help strengthen muscles and increase physical performance for those suffering from sarcopenia, an age-related condition resulting in muscle atrophy. More specifically, whole-body vibration can enhance walking or transitioning from sitting to standing position more smoothly as well as lengthen the amount of time one can maintain their balance while standing up – as well as improving balance, coordination, reducing falls or fractures risk and helping build overall wellness.
Whole-body vibration therapy may also help lower blood pressure. According to one small study with 38 young, overweight or obese women and men participating, six weeks of performing four leg exercises three times weekly on a vibration machine combined with taking supplements of the amino acid L-citrulline reduced their blood pressure significantly.
Reduced Pain
Muscle vibration therapy can improve the function of weakened muscles by activating their stretch reflex. The stretch reflex involves rapid, short muscle contractions in response to vibration which trigger brain signals telling them which way the muscle should move.
Vibration therapy also stimulates osteoblast cells to form stronger and denser bones, decreasing fracture risks. Direction and intensity of vibrations may influence their effectiveness – some machines produce up-and-down vibrations while others emit sideways/front/back vibrations; although up-and-down vibrations appear more effective for quick muscle contraction.
Studies have demonstrated that vibration therapy can significantly decrease pain for those living with chronic low back pain (CLBP), while simultaneously improving lumbar function and decreasing disability. Studies included both whole-body and local vibration therapies; results demonstrated both types were equally effective at alleviating discomfort while improving dysfunction in lumbar spine.
Vibration therapy may also provide relief for other conditions involving inflammation or sore joints and muscles, including inflammation. Vibrations transmitted throughout the body during this form of therapy increase blood flow to affected areas, which reduce swelling and inflammation while speeding recovery post exercise and improving muscle strength.
Vibration therapy not only reduces pain, but it can also increase flexibility and mobility among those suffering from arthritis or other forms of joint discomfort. Furthermore, it may assist in improving posture, balance and coordination.
Studies have also demonstrated the benefits of vibration therapy on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS typically develops following strenuous workouts and can be quite debilitating; according to research conducted on vibration therapy it could help alleviate it and be used both clinically as well as at higher athletic training levels for preventative measures against this pain after rigorous workouts. Vibration therapy could even be used by trainers at professional sporting clubs as an aid against DOMS occurrence after intense workouts.
Before beginning muscle vibration therapy, it is advisable to consult your physician. Vibration therapy could aggravate conditions like unstable spines or brain disorders; pacemakers and pregnant women should also not undergo this therapy.
Reduced Stress
Vibration therapy uses vibrations to stimulate the nervous system, increase neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine production and boost hormone production, ultimately helping to regulate mood, reduce stress and enhance overall mental wellbeing. Vibration therapy also increases muscle strength by stimulating bone structure as well as avoiding atrophy which could reduce flexibility over time.
As well as its physiological advantages, vibration therapy offers emotional stress reduction by activating the parasympathetic nervous system and decreasing cortisol release. This helps stabilize blood pressure which may be an indicator for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Furthermore, its up and down motion stimulates oxygen circulation which improves circulation and loosens soft tissue.
Studies have demonstrated that whole-body vibration (WBV) training increases muscle power and strength as well as proprioceptive spinal reflexes by increasing muscle spindle excitatory signaling while decreasing Golgi tendon organ inhibitory signaling to motoneuron pool (Fig 1). Therefore, WBV offers a promising strategy to improve physical performance among older adults suffering from sarcopenia.
Vibration therapy has been shown to effectively relieve delayed onset muscle soreness following intense exercise sessions, due to its ability to stimulate muscle contraction via involuntary stretch reflex and prevent sarcoma disruption and protein degradation.
Vibration technology has been found to significantly facilitate recovery after injury by alleviating pain and stiffness associated with rehabilitation exercises, thus making vibration therapy an excellent alternative to traditional rehabilitation exercises in recovering patients who have experienced muscular injuries or surgery.
Though muscle vibration therapy does not pose any contraindications, it is strongly advised that one consult a healthcare provider prior to starting this treatment. Vibrations can be uncomfortable and aren’t suitable for everyone; especially people with pacemakers, metal pins or plates, skin rashes, open wounds or areas of dermatitis. Furthermore, comfortable clothing and footwear must also be worn to avoid slipperiness or falling during vibration sessions.
