Vibration training is a newer fitness technique with a growing list of potential health and wellness benefits. Also known as whole body vibration (WBV), it involves standing or performing exercises on a vibrating platform.
Compared to traditional exercise, it provides a unique stimulus that boosts muscle growth and strength and can improve balance and flexibility. Several studies have shown that two 15-minute sessions per week of WBV can lead to the following:
Improved Muscle Activation
Whole body vibration or WBV is a relatively new exercise technique that has been shown to be able to offer a number of fitness and health benefits. While some people might avoid this type of equipment because they think it is too much like weight lifting, it is important to understand that the results that are possible with this equipment are comparable to those seen with regular physical exercise.
Vibration therapy is performed on a platform that vibrates rapidly. This movement transmits through the feet and into the muscles and joints. This causes the muscles to contract and relax repeatedly to maintain balance and posture. As a result, this helps improve muscle strength and tone.
The vibrations also help stimulate bones to produce osteoblasts, which are cells that promote bone growth and increase bone density. This effect is particularly helpful for those with osteoporosis, arthritis or other joint or bone-related diseases.
In addition to improving muscle strength and tone, vibration therapy can also be used to improve balance. This is particularly beneficial for those with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, as it can mitigate the tremors that are often associated with this condition.
As a physiotherapist, I use vibration therapy in my practice to improve balance and support muscle flexibility in my clients. It can be particularly useful for those suffering from joint pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, or other chronic ailments that make it difficult to participate in regular exercise.
If you’re interested in learning more about how this type of training can improve your balance, muscle strength, or overall wellness, contact Texoma Wellness Center today to schedule a consultation with our experienced team. We look forward to helping you achieve your wellness goals!
Increased Blood Circulation
The vibration of your body causes your muscles to contract, which in turn triggers your skeletal system to send signals to your circulatory system. This increase in blood circulation helps to keep your muscles healthy by bringing nutrients and chemicals around the body to support them. Your lymphatic system also needs to have good circulation in order to drain and remove waste. Whole body vibration therapy stimulates this system and helps it move efficiently so your body can function at its best.
For example, this type of exercise can help people with arthritis and other muscle-related conditions like multiple sclerosis. Vibration therapy can improve balance, strength and flexibility in these patients while reducing pain and stiffness. The effects can be seen after just two 15-minute sessions per week.
Another way that vibration can boost your health is by decreasing stress hormones and increasing the immune system. A better immune system can help fight off infections and other illnesses. It can also help to lower inflammation and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
While it is possible to gain a lot of benefit from just standing on a vibration platform, the equipment is most effective as a tool within a larger wellness routine. Cardiovascular training and resistance exercises build your heart and lung capacity in ways that a vibration machine can’t replicate. Similarly, if you want to strengthen your bones and muscles, doing traditional strength and balance exercises on the platform can be a great addition to your workout.
At Texoma Wellness Center, we offer vibration therapy in Whitesboro to improve muscle strength and tone and increase bone density. It can also be used to relieve pain, treat arthritis and other conditions like fibromyalgia. We also have a range of hand-held vibration devices that we use for localized vibration treatment to target specific areas of the body for healing and recovery.
Boosted Muscle Growth
Whether you are looking to add strength training to your exercise routine or simply want to improve your balance, whole body vibration therapy can help. It can strengthen muscles and improve balance with just two 15 minute sessions per week. The vibrations stimulate the core stability muscles which not only prevent injuries, but also improve energy levels throughout the day.
Vibration therapy involves standing or performing exercises on a machine that sends mechanical vibrations through the body. The vibrations cause your muscles to contract and relax rapidly, stimulating muscle growth even with just short sessions. The rhythmic movement also encourages blood flow, which supports healing and energy. People of all ages and fitness levels can benefit from this type of training.
It is especially effective for elderly and immobile people, who cannot achieve many of the benefits of traditional exercise. In addition, the vibrations can help those with muscle-related diseases such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In one study, people with rheumatoid arthritis experienced decreased pain and fatigue after just two 15-minute vibration therapy sessions per week. The frequency and amplitude of the vibrations can be adjusted to meet specific needs.
However, it should be noted that vibration training shouldn’t be a replacement for traditional exercise. Cardiovascular exercise builds heart and lung capacity in ways that a vibration platform can’t replicate, and resistance training provides the broader strength-building stimulus that a vibration session alone can’t provide. Both approaches work best when used as complementary tools within a broader workout routine. To get the most out of your WBV training, try using it as a warm-up before regular strength or bodyweight training and include stretching with the vibration platform to promote flexibility and myofascial pliability.
Increased Flexibility
In addition to aiding in weight loss and muscle toning, whole body vibration therapy has been shown to boost flexibility and balance. This is accomplished by stimulating the muscles’ sensitivity to stretch. It also stimulates muscle spindles to activate the innate reflexes that allow for more efficient muscle contractions.
This helps to improve joint lubrication, which decreases pain and stiffness and allows muscles to recover more quickly from workouts or injuries. Moreover, whole body vibrations increase blood circulation, improving oxygen supply to the muscles and other parts of the body. This may also help reduce chronic aches and pains associated with fibromyalgia or arthritis.
Vibration therapy has been used therapeutically since the 19th century when French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot noticed that riding in a train or on a horse improved tremors in his patients. Today, this technique is widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and has been found to be beneficial for many different health conditions including osteoporosis, chronic back pain and arthritic joints.
When performing exercises on a vibrating platform, the constant small adjustments required to stay balanced challenge the body’s ability to detect movement and make rapid corrections. This is similar to plyometric exercise and is a key component of preventing falls and improving balance and strength, especially in older adults.
While whole body vibration can be used as a stand-alone fitness tool, it is most effective when incorporated into a broader training routine. It is commonly paired with traditional resistance or cardio training to create an effective full-body workout, and it can also be used as part of a stretching routine to boost flexibility. Whether used as a supplement to traditional training or as part of an overall wellness program, it is important for those who incorporate vibration into their daily regimen to do so under the supervision of a trained fitness professional.
Relaxed Muscles
While standing on a vibrating platform might sound like a bizarre addition to your physiotherapy program, the gentle vibration technique is growing in popularity. It can be used in combination with traditional exercises to boost muscle activation, increase balance and mobility, improve circulation, and relieve pain.
Vibration therapy stimulates sensory receptors in muscles and tendons that track changes in position and movement. These sensors activate a low-level, involuntary response that increases blood flow to the area and keeps the nervous system engaged. When paired with a stretching session, vibration can also loosen tight muscles, which reduces tension and prevents injuries.
For some people, especially those recovering from injury or surgery, regaining strength is challenging. Adding vibration can help reactivate the muscles without the need for heavy resistance. It can also support balance and mobility, which are important for daily functions like walking up stairs or getting out of a chair.
Research shows that whole body vibration (WBV) can help to increase leg and hip strength, promote joint flexibility and reduce the risk of falls. A study compared 28 healthy males who performed vibration-based exercises with those who didn’t use the machine, and found that the WBV group experienced improvements in their leg and hip strength, mobility and balance.
Vibration training is not a replacement for a regular exercise program, and physiotherapists will recommend that you continue to work with your trainer or therapist to maintain strength, balance, flexibility and physical function as you age. But vibration can be a valuable tool to add to your routine, and it’s worth trying at least once to see what the fuss is all about! If you’re interested in trying out whole-body vibration therapy, contact one of our Back in Motion Physiotherapy clinics to schedule an appointment.