Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has quickly become a fad among professional athletes and celebrities, but has also proven effective therapy for various health conditions.
WBV works the muscles by moving the body ever-so-slightly, which causes muscles to contract and relax dozens of times every second, helping reduce cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress. Studies indicate this technique helps lower cortisol levels significantly.
Increased Circulation
Mechanical vibration of wbv devices produces involuntary muscle contractions at rates exceeding 1,500 per minute, stimulating muscles, ligaments, tendons, lymphatic system, bones and joints to contract more than 1,500 times per minute and increase blood flow – aiding detoxification processes while eliminating toxins from the body. Through its unique properties, whole body vibration therapy (wbv therapy) is capable of helping those living with Peripheral Neuropathy, Osteoporosis Arthritis Spinal Stenosis improve strength balance flexibility metabolism without incurring pain associated with other forms of exercise.
Studies have demonstrated the positive benefits of whole-body vibration (WBV), in terms of increased strength3-5 and flexibility,6-9 whereas evidence regarding changes to blood flow and muscle oxygen consumption remains uncertain.10-12 It’s instructive that acute bouts of therapeutic WBV increase peripheral blood flow significantly while failing to alter skeletal muscle oxygenation levels1.1
Many factors influence blood-flow responses to WBV, including duration and mechanical vibration stimulus. Vibration frequency also appears to play an influential role; lower frequencies (10-30 Hz) resulted in greater increases in peripheral blood flow compared to higher frequencies (>30 Hz).
Blood flow may also be affected by muscle contraction frequency; for instance, lower frequencies could allow more time between contractions, leading to improved perfusion.
Another factor affecting blood-flow is vibration type; side-alternating vibrations led to greater increases in blood flow compared with vertical vibrations, so when selecting a therapeutic WBV device it is important to take note of its specific vibration mode in order to achieve maximum benefit from its use.
Recent meta-analyses examining forearm blood flow responses to passive vibration have measured 12 responses at 30 and 50 Hz frequency and found comparable increases in skin blood flow (SBF).
As yet, no consensus exists regarding the optimal frequency or duration of vibration for increasing SBF. Furthermore, its mechanism remains unknown whether it involves changes to arterial stiffness and endothelial permeability or more generalized vasodilatory effects.
Reduced Back Pain
Vibration Therapy has quickly become popular with professional athletes and Hollywood celebrities, yet has significant clinical potential for patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Vibration platforms use vibration to stimulate hormone, cardiovascular, lymphatic, and nervous systems simultaneously – this results in strengthening muscles, cellulite reduction, increased bone density and secretion of stress-reducing hormones while simultaneously increasing exercise-inducing hormones while decreasing stress-producing ones.
Studies of WBV treatment’s effects in people suffering from musculoskeletal disorders have demonstrated its beneficial properties, such as improving balance and posture, increasing muscle strength, and decreasing pain. Due to its ability of increasing intensity and duration of physical activity without risk of injury, this therapy may serve as an excellent replacement for traditional exercises in some instances; furthermore it’s also effective at managing symptoms associated with certain autoimmune diseases.
At times, however, patients may experience muscle soreness or headaches during or after receiving therapy sessions. These symptoms are generally the result of incorrect positioning or settings on the device and can easily be addressed by healthcare professionals; most patients, however, do not report experiencing any pain during or following their session.
A systematic review compared the efficacy of WBV treatment for relieving chronic low back pain (CLBP) and improving lumbar function and found evidence to suggest its success. Unfortunately, however, no meta-analysis was performed by its authors and heterogeneity was quite high between studies analyzed in this review.
Rotational WBV was chosen over its vertical counterpart for treatment purposes as this is believed to reduce mechanical energy transference from upper body to spine, especially when knees were kept flexed during WBV sessions. Furthermore, keeping knees flexed significantly reduced head acceleration and thus mechanical energy transferred directly to spine in studies which measured pain as an outcome measure. According to researchers who attributed benefits from WBV therapy treatment through longitudinal vibration transmission rather than by targeting certain joints exclusively like muscular vibration therapy might do.
Increased Bone Density
One of the primary benefits associated with WBV is increasing bone density. This occurs because vibration forces vibration-shocked bones to respond and adapt to mechanical stress in similar fashion to how weightlifters and runners strengthen their muscles by repetitive exercises such as weightlifting or running, leading them to grow larger which in turn increases strength – all important factors when it comes to combatting osteoporosis.
Studies have demonstrated that those who use vibration machines regularly experience decreased bone loss and increased density, but results vary depending on factors like length of study, machine type used, frequency of vibration frequency and number of treatment sessions undertaken. Age can also have an effect on these outcomes.
Researchers have recently discovered that using a vibration machine can significantly increase bone density among postmenopausal women. After receiving vitamin D and calcium supplements, these women were then exposed to a vibrating machine with 30Hz frequency for 12 months – researchers observed a decrease in rate of bone loss from spine and femoral neck regions as a result, as well as women weighing less than 65kg experiencing greater benefits from this treatment.
Studies have demonstrated that vibration therapy may improve balance and mobility for people living with Parkinson’s disease, though its efficacy remains uncertain; no firm conclusions were reached from any particular study and whether its benefits outweighed other forms of physical activity or were more long-lasting than expected.
Vibration has also been shown to have positive outcomes on children with Down syndrome, such as increased muscle strength and improved balance and posture through vibration training. Further investigation should take place regarding its effects in terms of randomized controlled trials for this population.
Improved Balance and Coordination
WBV utilizes a vibration platform to stimulate muscle contractions throughout the body. Vibrations cause contraction and relaxation cycles to take place dozens of times every second, creating more balanced coordination as well as strengthening of muscle tissue. Professional athletes and Hollywood celebrities have used WBV for improved balance, coordination, health and performance enhancement; but its clinical potential extends well beyond these benefits; treating neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is another use for WBV technology.
Studies are investigating the use of WBV in alleviating back pain, whether due to bad posture, exercise or work conditions. WBV can help alleviate low back discomfort by increasing circulation and strengthening joints, discs and muscles in your body – it may even strengthen muscles within your back! The vibrations from its platform may further help ease this suffering.
WBV vibrations not only increase blood flow but have an additional benefit: improving the peripheral nervous system. Neuropathy affects this network of nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, often manifesting with tingling sensations in hands and feet. According to studies, WBV can significantly enhance balance and gait for those suffering from neuropathy.
WBV can also increase human growth hormone and serotonin secretion, both of which aid the body’s ability to heal by regulating metabolism and relieving symptoms associated with menopause, fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses.
Depending on the device used, vibrations may either be rotational or vertical stimulation. Rotational stimulation involves placing your feet on a platform with your knee slightly bent for rotational stimulation; its amplitude of vibrations tends to be greater while its frequency can be adjusted to suit various training objectives.
WBV is an effective, low-impact way to activate the body’s muscles and cells. Anyone looking to strengthen their muscles and enhance balance, coordination and gait may use WBV. WBV can be particularly beneficial to older adults unable to complete regular workouts due to limited strength or living sedentary lives as well as those suffering from injuries and chronic diseases.
