WBV research has predominantly centered around its effects and applications to improve muscle-skeletal performance in athletes and patients with muscular-skeletal conditions; however, recent studies indicate it can also have profound neurological benefits.
BWV stimulates reflex integration to support a healthy nervous system and help reduce stress. Furthermore, lymphatic drainage improves body healing capabilities.
Neurodevelopment
Vibration therapy is an innovative approach to stimulating muscle activity in the body. Utilizing mechanical vibrations to activate muscles and increase communication between brain and muscle, vibration therapy allows more free and efficient body movement. According to various studies conducted on vibration therapy‘s benefits for improving balance, strength and coordination as well as reflex integration — an integral process which teaches new motor skills — making this form of treatment particularly suitable for children suffering developmental disorders like autism or ADHD.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis on 16 randomized controlled trials, comprising all available data. Participants ranged in age, and cognitive outcomes were measured using standard tools for global cognition (MMSE, ACE-III), executive function (Stroop, TMT and BRIEF), attention (PASAT-3 and DSST) and memory (Digit Span SRT ImPACT). Additionally, effects related to vibration frequency, amplitude posture duration intervention duration were investigated.
Studies involving control groups revealed no evidence of cognitive enhancement from vibration stimulation; however, researchers did observe that higher intensity vibration caused more dramatic effects. This indicates that its influence on cognitive functions may depend on other factors and not solely intensity stimulation alone.
Studies suggest that the beneficial effects of WBV are due to its activation of the cholinergic system. Animal experiments showed an immediate rise in C-fos expression after WBV exposure; its activity being known to play an essential part in long-term memory formation as well as learning and development.
Studies have demonstrated that whole-body vibration therapy improves cognitive performance among healthy adults as well as people living with morbidities like lumbar hyperlordosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and senile dementia. The findings of these studies support whole-body vibration as a safe and effective method for increasing cognitive function – but more research needs to be conducted into whether its results are sustainable and the underlying mechanism behind their improvements are still unknown.
Pain relief
Pain relief is one of the primary motivations behind vibration therapy‘s popularity among many individuals. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy for treating various conditions such as fibromyalgia, back pain and joint discomfort – vibration therapy has proven itself particularly helpful against all three. Vibration stimulates nerve fibers that transmit non-noxious signals directly into the brain to “shut off” nociceptive signals thus decreasing pain perception. Vibration also activates mechanoreceptors located within Pacinian corpuscles and main terminals of muscle spindle which respond to pressure, friction or vibration by sending signals directly into central nervous system and relay information back.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of using both frontal th power increases and sensory-relevant vibrotactile feedback to provide pain relief. This approach differs from current neurofeedback systems which typically reinforce or inhibit EEG activity in sensory areas of the brain. However, it should be noted that this clinical pilot study involved only six participants; making more generalized claims difficult.
This trial’s correlation between frontal th power changes and pain reduction was striking, suggesting that BCI-mediated neuromodulation directly affects pain relief physiology. Furthermore, pain reduction was independent of distraction; further suggesting that relief isn’t just the result of attentional shift.
Brain wave vibration meditation has been proven to be just as effective as sitting or lying down for relaxation purposes. In this exercise, gentle rhythmic shaking of the body is applied in order to lower awareness levels in your mind from executive areas down into your subconscious – similar to deep relaxation techniques, Tai Chi/Qi Gong practice/exercises, healing touch techniques and hypnotherapy treatments.
Studies have demonstrated the power of mindfulness meditation (WBV) to both increase mental wellbeing and mitigate the side effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Furthermore, WBV increases BDNF production – helping repair nerve cells damaged from TBI as well as decreasing falls risk that could further injure. Additionally, physical recovery may also benefit by decreasing physical risk exposure to more injury.
Muscle strength and power
Mechanical vibrations used to stimulate and activate muscle contraction has been found to provide many health advantages. Vibration therapy may take the form of either whole-body vibration (WBV), in which an individual stands on a machine which delivers overall body vibrations; or via localized vibration where devices placed directly over muscle groups produce targeted stimulations; both types are effective neurological exercises as well as providing pain relief, weight loss and joint mobility benefits.
Research into WBV has traditionally focused on its beneficial effects on muscular strength and performance; however, recent discoveries point towards its effect on cognitive functioning under certain circumstances.
As an example of this effect, presynaptic autogenic inhibition can help mitigate the negative side-effects of eccentric contraction-biased exercise on muscles, such as loss of maximal strength. This process reduces muscle spindle and golgi tendon organ activation rates which results in lower group Ia mean discharge rates as well as shorter reflex magnitude and duration times.
WBV can also improve proprioception, or the body’s sense of its position and movement, which helps with balance, coordination and falls prevention in older adults. Furthermore, WBV promotes bone health by stimulating osseous reflex and increasing bone density.
At Texoma Wellness Center in Whitesboro, TX, our vibration therapy can reduce pain and stiffness while increasing flexibility and mobility, improving balance and stability, as well as positively influencing overall mental wellbeing. Are you curious to learn more about our services or looking to incorporate vibration into your wellness regime? Reach out now and contact us. We offer innovative wellness technology, such as Brain Wave Vibration mind-body meditation. Moving meditation has been shown to be more effective than traditional seated forms, increasing mood-boosting catecholamines like dopamine. We offer regular classes and private sessions so come experience how just a few minutes of bouncing on a platform can have such an enormous effect on your life!
Mental health
Mental wellbeing is an integral component of overall well-being, and protecting and nurturing it should be just as essential. There are a variety of methods available for doing just this, such as brain wave vibration meditation which is an effective way to relax the mind, de-stress and become calmer.
Brain wave vibration therapy utilizes mechanical vibrations that tap into an organism’s natural ability to sense vibrations – an ability that has existed across animal kingdom. Our sense of vibrations plays an integral part of how we interpret the world around us and is vital in providing us with information.
Numerous studies assessing the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on neurocognitive performance have been conducted and published. Most of these experiments involved healthy individuals; however, Ki-Hong Kim focused on an elderly population suffering from dementia while Hugo Rosado administered low frequency vibration to an older human population; both these studies recorded positive results on color-word interference tests and stroop difference tests indicating improvements in selective attention and inhibition.
However, these studies did not assess post-intervention cognitive enhancement on subjects. More long term data would be welcome on WBV’s cognitive effects.
