Metal vibration therapy is a treatment option for individuals experiencing balance issues. It involves standing on a platform that vibrates multiple times per second with handrails for support; this causes muscles to contract and expand while placing strain on bones to promote bone growth.
Vibration can also increase blood flow by stimulating nitric oxide production – an essential neurotransmitter with many roles including blood circulation and oxygenation of tissues.
What is WBVT?
WBVT (whole body vibration therapy) involves subjecting the body to mechanical oscillations, typically through use of a vibrating plate on which users stand, sit or exercise. Amplitude and frequency settings can vary.
Researchers have observed that vibrations stimulate muscle and bone cells to increase bone density. It’s thought this occurs because vibrations cause muscles to contract and expand, indirectly placing stress on bones that stimulates their growth and spurring their development. Furthermore, resonance vibrations cause the release of hormones and proteins which help stimulate and regulate bone metabolism as well as calcium absorption.
Vibration therapy has long been considered an effective means of improving fitness and wellbeing, but recent advances in actual machines are relatively recent. Some researchers have explored physiotherapy applications of vibration to stimulate tissues without inducing movement, while others use whole-body vibration training that combines vibrations with positions designed to induce muscle exercise. Both types of vibration therapy can be utilized at home or gym environments.
WBVT evidence comes mainly from studies conducted on athletes and older adults; however, most studies conducted to date are small-scale investigations with preliminary findings that WBVT may improve leg strength by strengthening knee extension but generally see similar benefits to regular physical activity.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of WBVT therapy on arthritis or neurodegenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis. For instance, one research paper concluded that WBVT improved balance and gait speed among participants with osteoarthritis of the knee; another demonstrated how WBVT could enhance posture improvement among multiple sclerosis sufferers.
WBVT can also improve core stability and reduce back pain among individuals suffering from lower back issues, likely through activating stretch reflexes in lower back and core muscles that strengthen those muscles while helping prevent spasms. In addition, recent research indicates it may increase blood flow to the brain which could possibly reduce depression and anxiety among older adults.
How does WBVT work?
WBVT involves standing, sitting or exercising on metal plates which vibrate dozens of times each second, creating vibrations which stress muscles and bones while encouraging their development and repair. WBVT was initially devised to counteract gravity’s bone-thinning effects by creating an external force on the body similar to gravity while activating and strengthening muscles to reduce risk of falls – particularly among older adults.
Though more research must be completed, WBVT has proven itself beneficial in relieving back pain, improving balance, strengthening muscles and increasing bone density for some individuals. WBVT may even have the power to slow or reverse osteoporosis progression which causes fractures or other health complications that lead to fractures and serious health complications.
Vibration therapy works by stimulating rhythmic muscle contractions that cause blood vessels to dilate, improving overall circulation and providing more oxygen to tissues, helping reduce inflammation and increase energy levels while simultaneously helping bone absorb more nutrients for prevention of bone loss and speedy healing after injury.
Studies have also demonstrated the effectiveness of WBVT in helping reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following eccentric exercise. Researchers in these studies used a Galileo Basic vibration plate from Novotec Medical (Pforzheim, Germany) which offered vibrations at various amplitudes and frequencies; specifically 20Hz with 1mm amplitude on four separate occasions weekly reduced DOMS significantly among a group of athletes post eccentric training.
Individuals with poor circulation typically benefit the most from vibration therapy. After receiving this therapy, these individuals typically report increased energy levels and can engage in more strenuous rehabilitative exercises than they otherwise could. A recent study has also demonstrated how vibration therapy can enhance lumbar joint position sense and spinal flexibility for those experiencing chronic low back pain.
What are the benefits of WBVT?
Vibration therapy has gained in popularity as an approach for treating those living with cerebral palsy (CP), due to its many potential advantages such as increased blood flow, decreased muscle stiffness, better balance and decreased risk of falls. Furthermore, vibration therapy may increase bone density while helping prevent osteoporosis.
Vibration therapy provides additional pain relief and swelling reduction through inducing skeletal muscle contractions that produce external pressure on lymph vessels for drainage. This method can reduce swelling after surgery or injury by improving lymph drainage; additionally it can be used to decrease back pain by stimulating the release of nitric oxide, which increases blood flow while simultaneously decreasing inflammation.
WBV can also help improve balance and postural control, helping to prevent falls. A 2017 study demonstrated how vibration training improved stance stability and gait in participants with chronic low back pain; additionally, in 2019 another research team discovered that five minutes of low frequency vibration therapy improved neuromuscular coordination and pain relief for lower backs.
WBV can also help improve circulation. By improving blood flow to the brain, lungs, and joints it may provide significant relief from conditions like MS, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, WBV may help treat varicose veins by tightening up blood vessel walls to stop blood pooling in legs.
When selecting a vibration machine, it is crucial that it has been proven effective through studies while remaining safe to use. Check if your machine includes safety switches that can be activated as well as emergency stop buttons; check for specifications and amplitude settings of each model such as Novotec Medical’s Galileo Basic which has been proven successful multiple studies while remaining safe to use; studies indicate an 81.14% compliance rate as well as lower personnel requirements than similar interventions for movement-related interventions.
What are the risks of WBVT?
WBVT has been shown to improve balance and posture among those suffering from low back pain. Furthermore, it assists with osteoporosis treatment, can prevent falls among seniors, increase bone density, reduce hip fractures as well as provide health benefits; some studies even suggest increased bone density! However, other research indicates otherwise and suggests the ineffectiveness and potential health concerns related to vibration therapy; it is therefore wise to conduct your own investigation prior to initiating any form of vibration therapy treatment.
Vibration equipment on the market comes in various forms and each offers different promises of health benefits. When selecting one for yourself, ensure it has undergone clinical testing to ensure its design provides appropriate amplitudes and frequencies of vibration to promote results; additionally look for manufacturers offering technical support as well as warranties.
Vibration therapy should not be seen as a silver bullet and should be combined with other forms of treatment, including physical therapy, for maximum benefit. While vibration training may help people experiencing low back pain, always consult with a medical provider first before beginning a new regime. Some individuals may experience muscle fatigue after their first vibration training session but this should dissipate after subsequent sessions.
As with any therapy, vibration therapy must be carefully planned out and executed. Studies have revealed that prolonged high-frequency vibration can result in lower back pain; to minimize risk it is recommended using a low frequency vibration machine for this exercise.
Researchers recently conducted a study that demonstrated how whole body vibration therapy (WBVT) could significantly decrease intrinsic fall risk factors among women 60+ at increased risk of falls. They compared two groups who engaged in three WBV sessions per week: the WBVVT group significantly improved RMQ, ODI, Freiburger activity questionnaire scores as well as trended improvements in lumbar spine muscle strength; while no changes occurred for the control group.
WBV can also reduce bone loss among postmenopausal women. A study at Stony Brook University in New York demonstrated this benefit of WBV by showing it could prevent menopause-induced bone density loss; vibrations stimulate production of new bone-building cells while inhibiting breakdown. Vibrations also help decrease inflammation levels by decreasing inflammation markers in blood samples.
