Physical therapy vibration therapy is an efficient and safe solution that can help patients improve their balance, strength, and flexibility. It can be utilized on either the whole-body or locally.
Study results demonstrated how vibration training helped individuals with spastic cerebral palsy gain balance and decrease spasticity, while simultaneously decreasing delayed-onset muscle soreness 24-72 hours post exercise.
Improves Circulation
Physical therapy vibration involves placing someone either lying, sitting, or standing on a vibrating platform that transmits vibrations into their bodies. Both frequency and amplitude of vibration are adjusted accordingly in order to meet individual patient needs.
Vibrations activate muscle spindles, small sensor-like receptors on muscles that report back to your brain how much your muscles stretch or contract, helping it make decisions about muscle movement. By exercising on a vibration plate, muscle contraction and stretching simultaneously occur simultaneously – increasing both intensity of contraction and blood flow to that area simultaneously, leading to what’s known as “the stretch reflex.”
Studies conducted on WBV revealed that its high frequency vibration can activate the musculoskeletal system to trigger quick, involuntary muscle responses that contract and relax simultaneously, providing neuromuscular training which may increase stability and speed throughout the body, ultimately helping prevent injuries.
Vibrations produced by plates also help increase circulation and lymphatic drainage, since active muscles require more blood to work effectively; for this blood to get through properly it needs to travel via lymphatic systems in order to drain the body properly.
Vibration therapy also plays a significant role in increasing bone density and strength, according to studies conducted on long-term vibration training sessions. Research shows this training to have positive impacts on variables related to blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, oxidative stress, cardiovascular function and endothelial functions as well as endothelial functions.
Studies have also demonstrated that short-term vibration treatments can bring significant improvements in bone mineral density for knees and lumbar spines due to increased blood supply with nutrients that promote osteogenic differentiation, cell communication, and reduction of osteoclast formation.
Research to date indicates that whole-body vibration therapy does not pose any significant adverse side effects, with only occasional cases of muscle soreness and fatigue reported from brief sessions of whole-body vibration. More studies need to be performed in order to pinpoint exactly how vibration induces changes in peripheral and muscle blood flow and oxygenation through its action mechanism.
Relieves Pain
Vibration therapy activates muscle spindles, tiny sensor-like nerve receptors in muscles. When stimulated, these sensors communicate with the brain, telling muscles when to relax, contract, or adjust tension and position accordingly. Since vibrating activates these sensors, vibration therapy may help alleviate pain while improving function and increasing strength.
Vibrating can also help your muscles rebuild themselves. Studies show that vibration increases muscle strength and function among both sedentary individuals as well as those participating in training regimens, and also helps increase proprioceptive function – something especially valuable for people living with chronic low back pain.
Vibration therapy comes in two primary forms: whole-body and localized. When engaging in whole-body vibration, patients either stand, sit or lie on a vibrating platform that transmits vibrations throughout the entire body; this technique may be utilized during rehabilitation after knee or hip replacement surgery, for instance. For localized vibration treatments, your physical therapist may utilize devices which deliver mechanical vibration directly to muscles and tendons in targeted areas.
Both the directionality (horizontal, side-to-side or vertical displacement) and amplitude of vibration are critical factors when it comes to determining its beneficial effects on muscle function, skeletal balance, pain relief or bone density. Studies have shown that lower frequencies and longer usage duration can provide relief from pain while improving tissue extensibility – ideal prior or following exercise sessions – while higher frequency and shorter usage length helps motor unit recruitment for increasing muscular strength while decreasing delayed onset muscle soreness.
Researchers are conducting studies on vibration’s potential benefits for treating various health conditions and injuries, such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. They’re studying how vibration might relieve pain while decreasing stiffness and swelling by stimulating muscle spindles, ligaments and cartilage to determine whether vibration therapy could help ease them.
Although vibration therapy is generally safe and noninvasive, some individuals should avoid its use. Vibration is not advised for individuals recovering from surgery or joint replacement procedures, epilepsy, uncontrolled high blood pressure or open wounds; additionally it should not be administered during pregnancy and to those carrying metal pins and plates in their bodies.
Rebuilds Muscle Strength
Vibration therapy stimulates muscle spindles, the microscopic sensory receptors found on our muscles that send signals back to the brain about how your muscles stretch and move, helping control them more precisely. Vibration therapy has been found to increase stimulation of these receptors for improved muscle function resulting in stronger muscles.
Vibration therapy not only strengthens muscles but can also strengthen and protect bone density by decreasing bone loss. When combined with weight training, this therapy has been proven effective against osteoporosis while increasing osteoblast cells to build new bones.
Whole-body vibration therapy entails standing on a mechanical platform vibrating at various frequencies and intensities, stimulating your muscles to contract and relax rapidly, which increases blood flow and muscle tone. Localized vibration therapy uses handheld vibrating devices placed near your body.
Both types of vibration therapy have been found to increase muscle strength, with whole-body vibration proving particularly successful at doing so. The vibratory waves travel throughout your entire body stimulating every muscle at once. Furthermore, choosing a device with appropriate frequency and intensity levels will significantly impact performance for optimal muscle care.
Review of randomized controlled trials has demonstrated that vibrational training substantially increases human muscle strength. It can also help combat sarcopenia, an age-related condition which affects the muscle mass and mobility of older individuals, with both whole-body vibration as well as localized vibration helping alleviate any pain caused by neuropathy or incontinence conditions.
Vibration therapy can do more than strengthen muscles; it can also improve balance and coordination by activating more of your muscles to work harder for balance, making you more confident about it overall and possibly even helping avoid injuries if these have been an ongoing struggle for you.
If you are struggling to gain muscle strength or need to build more mass, visit MDM Physical Therapy in Mesa, Arizona for vibration therapy advice tailored specifically towards your health goals. Contact us now to schedule a consultation!
Increases Flexibility
Vibration therapy can be an excellent way to build muscle strength, enhance circulation, decrease pain, and hasten recovery time. For optimal results it should be included as part of an integrated rehabilitation plan devised by a physical therapist or other health care professional.
Vibration technology can also assist in increasing flexibility and balance. When combined with stretching routines, this treatment can loosen tight muscles and increase range of motion – something particularly helpful for people suffering from back or neck pain. Furthermore, including vibration into rehabilitation efforts helps prevent future injuries by strengthening muscle more efficiently than otherwise possible.
Recent research indicates that local vibration may also provide beneficial results, similar to whole-body studies. One such research found that vibratory stimulation of lower leg and foot muscle spindles improved in patients suffering chronic ankle sprain; further, vibratory stimulation activated skeletal muscle fibers for better balance control, thus helping prevent falls.
Studies have also demonstrated how vibration therapy can aid flexibility by decreasing passive stiffness. When applied prior to exercise, vibration can alleviate delayed-onset muscle soreness and even enhance performance after an exercise session has taken place.
Vibration training can be performed either using a full-body platform or targeting specific parts of the body, such as knees and hips. Vibration frequency, amplitude and direction can all be adjusted based on therapeutic outcomes; increasing or decreasing amplitude for more intense vibration or decreasing it for gentler sensation can all help adjust frequency accordingly. Vibration patterns may include vertical, horizontal or multidirectional patterns.
At Vibration Therapy Solutions in Dallas, vibration therapy is an easy and safe tool that can benefit many patients in rehab or athletic performance enhancement. Before embarking on whole-body vibration therapy it is wise to consult a physical therapist or health care provider as some individuals may find the treatment uncomfortable; additionally certain conditions or medical concerns such as pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, pacemakers, neurological conditions like epilepsy and joint or bone disorders should be avoided as whole-body vibration therapy treatment could potentially harm these people.
