Studies indicate vibration plates can help people build muscle and shed unwanted weight, increase bone density, and enhance circulation.
Whole body vibration (WVB) of low frequency over 10 days has shown potential to enhance explosive power performances among physically active subjects [4]. Vibrations have the ability to modulate stiffness of muscles via reflex muscle action.
What is Vibration Therapy?
Vibration therapy is an all-natural, drug-free solution to strengthening muscles and bones. Vibrations stimulate nerve endings and muscle spindles to send signals back to your brain about how much a muscle is stretching or contracting, helping your mind recalibrate muscle movement thereby improving flexibility while strengthening joints and muscles without exertion pain. You can experience vibration therapy either as a whole-body treatment or locally to specific parts of the body using vibrating platforms that move back and forth, up and down or sideways – or as whole body treatments!
Researchers are continuing their investigations, but vibration therapy has already demonstrated numerous advantages over its competitors: improving bone strength and muscle mass, decreasing joint stiffness, increasing flexibility, improving balance, preventing sarcopenia and helping prevent sarcopenia – not to mention alleviating symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease according to one study published in Clinical Rehabilitation journal.
Vibration has been found to improve muscular performance and lower the risk of osteoporosis when combined with exercise. A cyclic vibration stimulus applied to the body’s musculoskeletal structure causes rapid and short changes in muscle-tendon complex length, stimulating sensory receptors and producing reflex muscular activity. One study demonstrated how applying vibration at low frequencies for 10 days increased vertical jump height by 11% among active subjects.
Vibration stimulation can stimulate gastrocnemius muscle-tendon complex, leading to its elongation, which may then be enhanced through stretching the tendon, leading to excitatory inflow upon vibration stimulation and possibly contributing to increasing muscle power [3].
Vibration muscle therapy uses low-frequency vibrations that have various positive effects on your body, from increasing bone density to relieving muscle soreness. But before beginning any form of physical therapy, always consult your physician first – pregnant women or those with heart conditions should opt for localized vibration therapy instead of whole-body vibration as whole-body vibration can increase blood pressure and heart rate; similarly those with artificial joints should avoid vibration therapy altogether as this could damage their prosthesis.
How Does Vibration Therapy Work?
Vibration machines produce mechanical oscillations to stimulate muscles to contract and relax repetitively, similar to exercising. Their frequency and amplitude vary between machines but the effect is similar – whole-body vibration therapy (WBV) has been proven to increase strength, flexibility, blood circulation and performance; localized vibration therapy focuses on specific joints or muscles for pain relief and enhanced physical performance.
Vibration muscle therapy works to stimulate the body’s natural healing response, releasing endorphins to ease anxiety and stress while stimulating the nervous system and lowering cortisol levels, improving mood and emotional stability – an effect which makes vibration therapy a valuable addition to psychotherapy or any form of mental health treatment.
Vibration therapy adds intensity and duration to physical exercise sessions, helping you get more out of every session. A study published by Journal of Athletic Training demonstrated how vibration therapy could reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness while another 2021 review and meta-analysis demonstrated how whole-body vibration improved balance and gait speed for patients with sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass).
Localized vibration therapy can also be used to treat specific injuries or pain, like sore back or joint conditions. This form of therapy works by stimulating muscle spindles (small sensors that send signals from muscle contractions and movements back to your brain), which then trigger nerve receptors on skin surface to regulate blood flow and muscle tension.
Overall, vibration therapy can be a highly effective method for relieving chronic pain, improving mobility and balance, increasing bone density and preventing weight gain or injury. It offers an alternative to surgery as well as using pharmaceutical drugs or narcotics for pain relief.
Mile High Spine & Pain Center provides whole-body vibration therapy in order to aid in the repair of soft tissues in your spine and joints, such as discs, ligaments, muscles and more. Vibrations increase blood flow to these tissues reducing swelling and inflammation as well as restore their integrity through passive movement that encourages healing.
What Are the Benefits of Vibration Therapy?
Vibration therapy can be an effective way to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility, as well as to improve balance, which reduces the risk of falls and injuries. Furthermore, vibration therapy has many other uses including increasing metabolism to burn fat faster and relieving pain or stress by soothing nerves or relieving tension. There are various kinds of vibration therapy with differing intensities and frequencies available – the right one will depend on your needs and preferences.
Vibrations from a vibrating platform can contract and relax muscles, increasing blood flow to them in turn stimulating muscle strengthening and bone growth, while potentially helping prevent osteoporosis – which causes bones to weaken over time.
Whole body vibration (WBV) therapy can improve balance and flexibility while simultaneously relieving back pain, the effects of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, as well as even improving mobility for those living with spinal cord injuries.
Vibration therapy offers another advantage by relieving muscle soreness and speeding recovery times after exercise. A study published in the Journal of Athletic Training demonstrated this potential by showing it can decrease delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) while also increasing performance; making vibration therapy an invaluable therapy option for athletes recovering from injuries and who need recovery time after participating in their chosen sport.
Vibration therapy can be an effective solution to reduce tremors and stiffness for those living with Parkinson’s disease. Vibrations help improve blood flow while stimulating the nervous system. They may even help alleviate anxiety which often arises with Parkinson’s.
Vibration therapy offers numerous other advantages, including improved posture and range of motion, increased muscle strength, and weight loss. According to one 2021 study, whole-body vibration therapy led to greater fat reduction than traditional resistance exercises alone.
No matter your goal – weight loss or improving overall health – vibration therapy offers an effective, safe solution that is free from surgery or narcotics. Get in touch with Mile High Spine & Pain Center now to discover more about how vibration therapy can assist.
How Can I Get Started with Vibration Therapy?
Vibration therapy uses mechanical vibrations to contract and relax muscles throughout the body. You’ll sit, stand or lie on a machine that sends out vibrations while you remain on it, helping improve muscle strength, balance and flexibility. Though not routinely available through NHS services, you may be able to find it at gyms, physiotherapy services or even in people’s homes. Note that slimming vibration machines used more commonly for weight loss and toning may differ significantly in design from vibration therapy machines used specifically for therapy – slimming vibration machines used primarily for weight loss/toning purposes are different – see separate article.
Researchers have recently demonstrated how vibrational movement of muscles stimulates nerve and muscular responses that help relieve discomfort in the body. When combined with other physical activities like exercise, such as vibration can significantly lessen delayed-onset muscle soreness.
Studies demonstrate that vibrational stimulation can enhance muscular performance and endurance as well as increase bone density in the hips, aiding with muscle regeneration following injury, as well as assist with injury rehabilitation.
Vibration therapy comes in two main varieties – whole body vibration (WBV) and localized vibration (LIV). WBV can often be found at gyms and fitness studios and can produce different intensities. LIV on the other hand is often performed under supervision by physical therapists to provide relief to specific areas of the body.
Vibration therapy has garnered much interest, though research is ongoing. If you’re suffering from osteoporosis or other health conditions like heart disease, speaking to your medical care team before using vibration therapy is key to its effectiveness and may help strengthen bones or prevent fractures; however, studies are ongoing into its effects in this context; while weight bearing exercises, vitamin D supplementation, balanced nutrition and falls prevention may all play a part.
