An increasing number of people suffer from neuropathy pain caused by damaged nerves. While various treatments have been tried, one that could provide hope is vibration therapy.
Vibration therapy is a noninvasive form of treatment in which feet are placed on a vibrating plate to stimulate nerves (potentially leading to nerve regrowth) and increase blood flow.
Reduces Pain
Intellinetix vibration plates work by disrupting pain signals your brain sends down from your mind, which reduces foot and leg discomfort, making you more active overall and improving your overall health.
Vibration therapy helps increase blood circulation in the feet and legs, alleviating symptoms such as cold feet and legs, numbness, cramps and cold extremities. Vibrations cause blood vessels to dilate allowing more oxygen into these areas of your body which reduce symptoms significantly.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of vibration therapy for healing hard-to-heal wounds such as pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers. One particular case involved vibration therapy being applied on an individual who was experiencing chronic foot ulcer pain as well as difficulty walking; after five treatments their vibration threshold returned to normal and their brief BESTest score went from 10-16!
Another advantage of vibration therapy is that it can reduce neuropathic pain in those suffering from peripheral neuropathies like diabetic or vascular neuropathies. According to one study, patients receiving local vibration on both plantar surfaces of both feet for 10 minutes at 62.5 Hz with an amplitude of 1mm experienced significant reductions in both neuropathy pain as well as increased sensations of touch from local vibration therapy.
Researchers speculated that vibration was responsible for this result by stimulating proprioceptive and neuromuscular functions, activating fast-adapting mechanoreceptors and muscle spindles to produce increased nerve sensitivity. Researchers also observed that Golgi organ afferents were temporarily inhibited during vibration and only partially activated after. At last, researchers discovered that fast-adapting mechanoreceptor afferents that responded to stimulation by the vibrating plate were significantly decreased with longer vibration sessions attributed to gate control theory, explaining why some patients experienced a “tingling” sensation after vibratory therapy sessions – unlike traditional massage, which usually requires going somewhere special for treatments. Instead, vibration therapy can be done at home using simple devices.
Relieves Tension
Vibration therapy is an excellent way to strengthen muscles without straining your joints or back, and improve balance, flexibility, feet temperature regulation and alleviate any associated pain from health conditions and injuries.
Vibration technology can be found both at home devices, wellness centers and spas. You can utilize vibration to engage your whole body or target specific parts – like feet – on vibration plates for targeted benefits. Whole body vibration may help with weight loss, muscle tone development and bone density increases while local vibration may treat neuropathic pain while improving balance, temperature sensation and foot temperature control; additionally it may activate muscle spindles on feet to rehabilitate injuries and ease discomfort.
Increases Circulation
As blood vessels move throughout the cardiovascular system, they provide oxygen and essential nutrients to key organs and tissues while transporting away any waste byproducts that accumulate. Our cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in keeping us energetic and free of fatigue, keeping energy levels constant and helping prevent us from feeling lethargic or tired. Circulatory systems play a pivotal role in providing essential nutrient-rich blood to various areas of the body, where it’s needed for cognitive functions, memory retention, and more. Problems in this system can cause pain, fatigue and decreased energy. Foot vibration therapy has proven itself effective at improving circulation and managing neuropathy pain, relieving pain while increasing blood flow and encouraging relaxation.
Vibration therapy entails placing your feet on a vibrating plate which emits pulsed vibrations at different frequencies and intensities, believed to travel up your feet and legs, targeting damaged nerves. Studies involving peripheral neuropathy patients showed that vibration therapy stimulated their nervous systems (potentially prompting regrowth and increasing blood flow), relieved muscle tension, increased balance and gait as well as interrupted pain signals in their brains.
Vibration therapy comes in two main varieties: whole-body and localized. Whole-body vibration involves standing or resting your feet on a vibration plate while adjusting intensity and frequency according to individual needs; studies on patients suffering from neuropathy have demonstrated both types of vibration therapy can reduce symptoms while simultaneously improving other treatments.
Studies on localized vibration therapy focus primarily on treating neuropathy pain caused by diabetes or other conditions. Studies have demonstrated that this form of vibration therapy can increase blood flow to the feet, leading to relaxation and relieving muscle tension in lower extremities. Furthermore, strengthening of feet and ankles helps provide improved balance and stability – to achieve maximum benefits, sessions of around 10-15 minutes at low intensity should be started initially.
Promotes Relaxation
Vibration therapy helps the body produce endorphins – its own natural “feel-good” chemicals – to relieve anxiety, alleviate depression symptoms, and promote overall mood enhancement. This process has proven very successful at relieving symptoms associated with anxiety disorders as well as improving depression symptoms.
Vibration therapy also stimulates serotonin production, which improves mood and energy levels while simultaneously increasing circulation, leading to more relaxed feelings and helping you feel at ease after a long day or intense workout. Thanks to these effects, vibration therapy makes an excellent way to relax after exertion or fatigue has left its mark on you.
Vibration therapy offers another advantage by relieving pain and alleviating muscle tension. This is particularly effective with foot vibration therapy, which targets muscles of the lower extremities. Vibrations help relax tense muscles to ease stress and tension throughout the body.
Localized vibration therapy can also be an effective means of decreasing inflammation and increasing muscle strength. It can be applied directly to legs, ankles, feet and arms, providing relief from chronic joint pain while decreasing soreness.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of vibration therapy in improving balance and flexibility, making it an excellent resource for individuals with balance or mobility issues. Furthermore, vibration therapy may also help prevent and manage Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), which often arises after exercise.
Vibrations on the surface of your feet activate muscle spindles, which communicate to your brain about which muscles are stretching or contracting and send information on muscle movement and coordination as well as potential injuries by informing it of possible issues. This information helps ensure proper muscle function and helps avoid injuries by alerting it of potential issues.
Although research on the long-term benefits of vibration therapy remains limited, evidence suggests it could enhance cognitive function and blood flow to feet. Although preliminary, more research needs to be completed before any conclusions can be drawn from such preliminary studies.
Integrating vibration therapy into a holistic treatment approach is a proven way to boost mental health. Vibration therapy works synergistically with traditional treatments like psychotherapy and medication, helping enhance their effectiveness. While vibration therapy should be safe for most individuals, it’s wise to consult your healthcare provider first when starting a vibration therapy regimen as certain medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and deep vein thrombosis as well as pregnancy may make vibration therapy unsafe.
