Horse vibration therapy is an emerging field which is quickly garnering increasing scientific support. As a non-invasive solution, this therapy produces microscopic muscle contractions to enhance limb function and aid in healing injuries.
WBVT plates feature adjustable frequencies (Hz) and magnitude settings to limit vibration hazards to horses. This feature can help lower their vibration hazard significantly.
Improves circulation
Vibration plate therapy is an easy, noninvasive and effective way to promote muscle recovery, circulation, bone density and stability in our horses. Vibration therapy also stimulates proprioception and improves stability while simultaneously relieving stress and improving overall performance. Vibration therapy may not be suitable for every condition and should always be discussed with a veterinarian prior to beginning any treatment plans with Niagara’s Equissage whole body vibration (WBV) unit.
A vibration plate generates energy in an upward and outward motion with variable amplitude and speed to produce involuntary muscle contractions, improving circulation by providing oxygen and nutrients more effectively to muscles, bones, tissues and eliminating metabolic waste like lactate more quickly. Furthermore, it strengthens proprioception through stimulating nerve endings of horses as well as strengthening proprioceptive systems in ways which promote balance and coordination for disciplined sports such as dressage or jumping.
WBV can be an ideal way to help stabled horses avoid muscle and bone resorption caused by lack of exercise and weight bearing, according to studies. Just 15 minutes on a vibration plate has proven sufficient in preventing bone loss that otherwise occurs as a result of being bedridden for extended periods or spending time in space.
Not only can vibration plates enhance circulation, they can also stimulate cellular activity. This increases the rate at which damaged cells are repaired and regenerate tissue for faster healing – this process is known as neovascularization and especially beneficial to horses who have been injured or recovering from surgery. Neovascularization increases lymphatic flow which promotes health tissue while avoiding stasis edema.
NASA originally developed vibrating platforms as an aid to help astronauts maintain muscle mass and bone density while in space; today they are an invaluable tool for rehabilitation, training, and injury prevention. At Front Range Equine Performance we use Vitafloor which is FDA-approved whole body vibration platform designed for human use which we adapt for horses using its cycloid vibration technique – great for pre-training to warm muscles up quickly before training begins; post training to reduce heart rate for slower cool down; recovery/injury prevention in athletes as well as promotion/injury prevention of horse athletes alike!
Alleviates pain and inflammation
Vibration therapy increases the rate at which oxygen and nutrients reach injured areas of the body, speeding up waste elimination such as lactic acid. Furthermore, vibration therapy stimulates production of synovial fluid for joint lubrication to alleviate pain and increase mobility while stimulating osteogenesis – the bone-building process which makes vibration therapy especially useful for young horses or older horses with laminitis or navicular syndrome.
Effects are similar to spa hydrotherapy treatments without using cold water. A vibrating machine creates an invigorating massage, improving circulation and soothing soreness. Vibroacoustic therapy may also be used as an aid before exercise and post-competition recovery aid.
Studies show that vibration therapy enhances proprioception (a horse’s sense of balance) by stimulating its nervous system and the nerve pathways to legs. With greater awareness of each limb’s position and movement, vibration therapy improves hind leg independence – essential for athletic performance in horses.
While more research must be completed, some studies suggest vibration therapy could help decrease inflammation associated with soft tissue injuries. One such study discovered that electromagnetic fields applied via a PEMF blanket helped improve results of a treatment plan for suspensory desmitis in a polo pony with improved acoustic myography scores compared to control group.
Studies suggest vibration therapy may provide relief for various conditions, including back muscle development and general musculoskeletal health. One such study involved horse placed twice daily on a vibration plate showing improved back muscles and improved limb function after five months compared with a control which received no treatments at all.
Vitafloor, developed by veterinarians and researchers to improve various conditions, is an innovative equine vibration platform with remarkable results for rehabilitation, conditioning and injury prevention. This machine utilizes whole-body vibration therapy combined with magnetic therapy for maximum muscular and joint health improvement as well as promote cellular activity, reduce inflammation and help heal injured cells – an outstanding achievement when it comes to rehabilitation, conditioning and injury prevention! This innovation has had incredible effects in producing stunning outcomes in rehabilitation, conditioning and injury prevention efforts for horses.
Stimulates hoof growth
As part of its natural gait cycle, horses’ feet experience pressure that compresses digital cushions and lateral cartilages of their hoof, stimulating blood circulation to boost growth of hoof tissue and promote hoof growth. Stimulating hoof growth by using vibratory plates such as EquiVibe is therefore essential in order to ensure healthy tissue development; EquiVibe does just this!
Local vibration does not equate to whole body vibration (WBV). There are various devices on the market and each works differently, including many equine “vibe” plates which use circular, side to side or teeter totter motion on flat surfaces – these may still provide some benefit but do not produce true WBV effects.
Vitafloor was initially developed for human athletes. Operating at 10-100Hz with wide spread vertical vibration, Vitafloor replicates vertical forces experienced during natural movement to help avoid shearing injuries and avoid shearforce injuries.
Benefits of vibration therapy for muscle strengthening include improving circulation and speeding bone density growth, while simultaneously relieving pain from soft tissue injuries like laminitis or navicular disease. Furthermore, vibration helps promote healthier hoof growth more rapidly than ever before.
Mackechnie-Guire et al (2018) discovered in their study of horses that using cycloidal vibration therapy significantly increased locomotor muscle strength and improved their symmetry, with vibrations stimulating muscles more evenly for locomotion. It’s thought this could be caused by vibration stimulating them more evenly to move.
Vibration plates have long been used in various sports to enhance power and speed; footballers use vibration plates to increase both their power and speed while golfers improve swing, tennis players use vibration plates to enhance court movements, and cyclists use them to improve performance. Furthermore, vibration plates can help tendon and ligament injuries recover more rapidly while preventing muscle atrophy during periods of reduced activity.
As part of an injury prevention strategy or regular health maintenance routine for horses, vibration has long been used as an effective form of therapy. More trainers and owners are turning to vibration for injury prevention or as part of a wellness care regime, with its effects proven and growing increasingly popular with trainers and owners. Just adding WBV into your horse’s daily regimen may improve balance, coordination, stability and muscle strengthening – improving all three areas at once!
Reduces stress
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), commonly used to provide pain relief to horses standing still, uses pulsed electrical current through coils of wire (such as those seen draped over standing horses), while vibration therapy uses small vibrations sent throughout the entire body to stimulate small muscle contractions similar to what would occur naturally while riding, leading to improved cardiovascular and lymphatic circulation, tissue oxygenation and elimination of metabolic waste from cells. Vibration therapy improves joint stability, balance and coordination while simultaneously helping reduce cortisol stress hormone levels while increasing tissue oxygenation – making this an excellent tool for enhanced musculoskeletal functioning!
Whole Body Vibration Therapy (WBVT), the latest form of vibration technology, involves simply standing your horse on a vibration plate that transmits vertical vibrations at 30-50 repetitions per second to their entire body. WBVT has been shown to promote bone density and increase joint stability by stimulating and strengthening associated muscles – this has also been observed with humans! In humans, WBVT can promote bone density as well as joint stability through stimulating and strengthening associated musculature; one study of nine horses treated five days a week with cycloidal vibration rollers over 60 days showed multifidus muscle increased size while thoracic and lumbar musculature displayed greater uniformity after treatment!
Turner likens the benefits of WBVT to watching professional athletes jump around on large platforms to warm up and loosen up before their games, or horses standing on large vibrating plates prior to riding in order to improve circulation and reduce pain and inflammation.
WBVT has also been demonstrated to increase bone density and muscular endurance, possibly because the vibrations cause slight instability within the body, prompting muscles to make necessary adjustments in order to remain balanced and stabilize.
An increasing number of equestrian centers are providing vibration therapy to their clients as it may help prevent injury and speed healing and recovery. Some practitioners are even using vibration therapy to enhance horse balance and posture by increasing muscle tone – especially at the topline – but further research needs to be conducted on its long-term effects on them.
